Head Chef

Head Chef – Smoky Boys Piccadilly

Location: Piccadilly, Central London
Position: Head Chef
Business: Smoky Boys – Burgers & Grill
Employment: Full-Time

About the Role

Smoky Boys Piccadilly is looking for an experienced, hands-on Head Chef to take responsibility for the day-to-day running of our kitchen.

We are a busy burger and grill restaurant in the heart of Central London, and we need someone who understands high-volume burger operations, works well under pressure and can lead the kitchen team from the front.

The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring every order leaving the kitchen meets Smoky Boys' standards for quality, presentation, portion size and speed of service.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the kitchen team during daily service.
• Take full responsibility for the grill and kitchen operation.
• Ensure burgers, grilled meats, sides and other menu items are prepared consistently to Smoky Boys' standards.
• Maintain excellent food quality, presentation and portion control.
• Manage busy lunch, evening and weekend services efficiently.
• Train, supervise and develop chefs and kitchen staff.
• Prepare staff rotas and ensure appropriate kitchen coverage.
• Monitor preparation levels and ensure the kitchen is ready before every service.
• Manage food ordering, stock levels and supplier deliveries.
• Control food waste and help maintain agreed food-cost and gross-margin targets.
• Carry out regular stock checks and identify unnecessary wastage.
• Maintain excellent kitchen cleanliness and organisation.
• Ensure all equipment is properly cleaned and maintained.
• Maintain high standards of food hygiene, HACCP, allergen management and health & safety.
• Ensure food is correctly stored, labelled and rotated using FIFO procedures.
• Work closely with the General Manager and owners to improve kitchen performance.
• Help develop and improve menu items, preparation methods and kitchen processes.
• Deal quickly and professionally with any food-quality or kitchen-related customer complaints.
• Lead by example and be willing to work directly on the grill and kitchen stations when required.

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate will have:

• Previous experience as a Head Chef, Kitchen Manager, Senior Sous Chef or similar leadership role.
• Strong experience working in a burger, grill, casual dining or high-volume restaurant environment.
• Excellent grill experience and knowledge of meat preparation and cooking.
• Experience managing and training kitchen teams.
• Strong understanding of food hygiene and health & safety requirements.
• Good knowledge of stock management, food costs, portion control and waste reduction.
• Ability to maintain quality during extremely busy periods.
• Strong organisational and leadership skills.
• A hands-on attitude – this is not an office-based Head Chef position.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends and busy trading periods.
• A genuine focus on quality, cons

Pay: £13.00-£14.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• Discounted or free food
• Employee discount

Work Location: In person