Head Chef - Busy Fresh Food Country Pub - East Devon

Head Chef
Busy Fresh Food Country Pub | East Devon
JWR is delighted to be working with a thriving and well-established country pub in East Devon, seeking an experienced and hands-on Head Chef to lead its busy kitchen operation.
This is an exciting opportunity for a strong kitchen leader who enjoys working with fresh food, managing high-volume service, and delivering a quality traditional pub offering. Carvery experience is essential, as the business is renowned for its popular and successful carvery operation alongside an extensive menu of classic pub favourites and seasonal specials.

Package

• Salary up to £44,000 DOE
• Performance-related bonus scheme
• Shared tips
• Live-in accommodation available
• Company pension
• Staff discounts
• Free meals on duty
• Free parking
• Genuine autonomy within the kitchen
• Stable and established business

The Role
As Head Chef, you will take full responsibility for the day-to-day management of the kitchen, ensuring consistently high standards across all food offerings while maintaining strong financial and operational controls.
Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and managing all kitchen operations
• Delivering a high-quality fresh food menu and traditional carvery
• Developing seasonal specials and menu ideas
• Managing food costs, GP margins and stock control
• Building strong relationships with suppliers
• Recruiting, training and developing the kitchen team
• Producing weekly rotas and managing labour costs
• Maintaining all food safety, HACCP and health & safety procedures
• Ensuring consistently high standards of food quality and presentation
• Driving a positive and productive kitchen culture

Requirements
We are looking for a Head Chef who thrives in a fast-paced environment and leads from the front.
You will have:

• Previous experience as a Head Chef or strong Sous Chef ready to step up
• Proven experience within a busy fresh food kitchen
• Essential carvery experience
• Strong leadership and team development skills
• Excellent organisational and time management abilities
• Sound understanding of kitchen finances and cost controls
• A passion for quality food and customer satisfaction
• The ability to remain calm and focused under pressure

If you're an experienced kitchen leader looking for your next challenge within a busy and successful country pub operation, we'd love to hear from you.