Sous Chef | Guildford Hotel

We’re looking for a hands-on Sous Chef to join the team at The Guildford Hotel. We’re keen to hear from someone who has worked in a larger-scale, high-volume venue and understands what it takes to keep a busy kitchen running smoothly.

This role is about more than cooking. We’re looking for a strong kitchen operator who can support the Head Chef, lead the team through busy services and take ownership of the day-to-day running of the kitchen.

What you’ll be doing

• Supporting the Head Chef with the daily operation and management of the kitchen
• Leading, coaching and developing the kitchen team to build a positive, accountable culture
• Keeping service running smoothly across busy periods while maintaining food quality and consistency
• Managing food costs, labour, stock control, ordering and waste
• Maintaining food safety, hygiene standards and kitchen procedures
• Assisting with menu execution, preparation planning and maintaining consistent standards across the team
• Helping manage rosters, delegate tasks and ensure the kitchen is organised and ready for service
• Taking ownership of the kitchen when the Head Chef is away

What we’re looking for

• Previous experience as a Sous Chef, Kitchen Manager or in a similar senior kitchen role
• Experience working in a larger-scale, high-volume venue, ideally within a busy pub, hotel or multi-outlet operation
• Strong kitchen management skills, with a good understanding of food costs, labour, ordering, stocktake and wastage
• The ability to lead a team, manage competing priorities and keep standards high under pressure
• Someone who is organised, commercially minded and confident making decisions
• A hands-on leader who leads by example and is happy to jump on the tools when needed
• A practical, solutions-focused approach and a genuine interest in developing people
• Why Join Us?
• Competitive salary and the opportunity to make your mark in a busy, well-established venue
• Enjoy staff discounts across 240+ venues
• Access to career progression and development opportunities through our Advance learning and development programs
• Be part of a supportive hospitality group with opportunities to move between venues and explore new challenges
• Access to internal recruitment, marketing, IT and operational support to help you succeed
• Join a team where great food, strong leadership and a positive kitchen culture matter
• If you’re a strong kitchen operator who knows how to run a busy service, manage a team and keep a kitchen on track, we’d love to hear from you.