Head Chef

Job information

• Role: Head Chef

• Position: Back of House

• Job Type: Permanent

• Salary: £55k

• Location: Burgess Hill (RH15)

Job Description

Change Hospitality is delighted to be recruiting on behalf of a prestigious and growing hospitality business for a confidential Head Chef opportunity.

This is a rare chance to lead the launch of an entirely new restaurant and food operation within an established destination business. Working closely with the owners, you’ll have the autonomy to create a memorable dining experience from the ground up, building the kitchen, recruiting your brigade, developing systems, and helping establish the venue as a must-visit food destination.

This isn’t a role where you’ll inherit someone else’s vision—it’s an opportunity to help create it.

The Role

• Lead the opening of a brand-new restaurant and establish the food side of the business.
• Recruit, train, and develop a talented kitchen brigade from the ground up.
• Design and deliver a high-quality seasonal menu that showcases the very best local produce.
• Oversee all kitchen operations, ensuring exceptional food quality, consistency, and service.
• Manage food costs, labour, stock control, supplier relationships, and kitchen financial performance.
• Create a positive kitchen culture focused on teamwork, development, and excellence.

About You

• Previous experience as a Head Chef or an exceptional Senior Sous Chef ready to step into your first Head Chef role.
• Passionate about seasonal British cuisine with a strong farm-to-table ethos and an appreciation for quality local ingredients.
• A confident leader with experience building, mentoring, and inspiring kitchen teams.
• Commercially minded with a solid understanding of GP, labour management, and operational efficiency.
• Organised, driven, and excited by the challenge of launching a new hospitality concept.

What’s on Offer

• The opportunity to build and lead a restaurant from day one.
• A genuine chance to influence the direction and identity of the food offering.
• Full autonomy to recruit your own brigade and create a strong kitchen culture.
• Join an ambitious business with exciting long-term growth plans.
• Excellent career progression as the wider hospitality operation continues to evolve.
• Competitive salary and bonus package.

If you’re looking for the opportunity to create something truly special rather than simply maintain an existing operation, we’d love to speak with you.

Contact details at change for this role:

• Consultant: James Buckland
• Tel: 02081941581

Email James Buckland

Please quote Job ID: Head Chef when enquiring about this role.