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.