Head Chef

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
Location: Sutton Harbour, Plymouth
Role: Full-time, permanent

We’re looking for an exceptional Head Chef to take the lead in our kitchen and help shape the next chapter of Signature.

This is a big role for us, and we’re not simply looking for someone who can cook.

We want a proven leader, organiser, creative thinker and genuinely positive presence who takes real ownership of their kitchen and wants to build something they’re proud of.

Signature Strawberries is a busy, independent brunch café on Sutton Harbour with a strong identity and an ever-evolving menu. Our food is modern, creative and trend-led. Elevated brunch, bold flavours, seasonal dishes and the kind of food people genuinely get excited about ordering.

We want someone who understands where the industry is going, keeps an eye on current food and brunch trends and brings fresh ideas to the table.

THE ROLE

You’ll lead the kitchen from the front: setting standards, developing the team and taking responsibility for both the food and the commercial performance of the kitchen.

We’re looking for someone who is confident taking ownership of:

• Leading, motivating and developing the kitchen team
• Maintaining consistently high standards across every service
• Menu development and seasonal innovation
• Staying current with modern brunch and food trends
• Training chefs and sharing knowledge
• Strong prep, ordering and kitchen organisation
• Forward planning for busy periods, launches and seasonal changes
• Stock control and supplier management
• Food costing and maintaining healthy GP/profit margins
• Actively monitoring and reducing wastage
• Portion control and recipe consistency
• Kitchen rotas and efficient labour management
• Food safety, hygiene and compliance
• Creating a calm, organised and positive kitchen culture

EXPERIENCE: THIS IS IMPORTANT

For this position, we’re looking for someone with a minimum of 2 years’ proven experience in a Head Chef position, with a track record of successfully leading and managing a kitchen.

We need someone who has already had responsibility for the bigger picture & not just service.

You should be able to demonstrate experience in team leadership, training and development, menu creation, food costing, GP/margin management, stock control, wastage reduction, ordering, kitchen organisation and forward planning.

This isn’t a first Head Chef position. We’re looking for someone who can bring experience, structure and strong leadership into the business from day one.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

Someone who spots problems before they become problems.

Someone who thinks ahead rather than constantly firefighting.

Someone who understands that being a great Head Chef isn’t just about producing great food — it’s about people, standards, organisation and numbers too.

Most importantly, we want a positive leader.

No ego. No shouting kitchen culture.

We want someone who leads and teaches from the front, supports their team, communicates well, holds people to high standards and creates an environment where people want to work hard and develop.

YOU’LL LOVE THIS ROLE IF…

You’re obsessed with good food and modern hospitality.

You save dishes, follow food trends and constantly notice what great operators are doing.

You naturally think about how a dish could be better, how service could run smoother or how a kitchen could be more efficient.

You care about presentation and profitability.

And you want more than simply another Head Chef job — you want the opportunity to have genuine input, bring ideas to life and help grow an ambitious independent business.

WHAT YOU’LL GET

A kitchen and brand where creativity is encouraged, ideas are listened to and you’ll have genuine influence over what comes next.

You’ll work closely with an owner who is passionate about continually evolving the business, alongside an established team and a brand with a strong identity and exciting plans ahead. If you’re an experienced Head Chef who combines exceptional food, strong leadership and commercial awareness, and you think you could take Signature’s kitchen to the next level, we’d love to hear from you.

Please apply with your CV and a short introduction covering your Head Chef experience, your leadership style and what you feel you could bring to Signature.

Pay: £123,456.00 per year

Work Location: In person