Vacancies

Assistant Kitchen Manager

Job Description

Location: Stroud

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £28,132 per annum

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Reporting To: Kitchen Manager

About the Kitchen

Our client's kitchen is centred around our wood-fired oven and the grill within a popular independent organic brewery and taproom. We focus on using local and organic ingredients wherever possible. We serve an all-day menu featuring brunch and lunch dishes, grill items, and pizzas, alongside regular specials. We also cater for a range of events and enjoy a dedicated following of regulars.

Job Function

To support the Kitchen Manager and together lead the kitchen team to deliver a unique food offer from the taproom kitchen.

Main Responsibilities

Working well in a fast-paced environment under pressure, you will lead the team to ensure they deliver a high-quality, personable service across all areas while minimising wait times.

Control and direct food preparation and related kitchen activities.
Collaboratively develop our menu alongside the chef team.
Cost food items and maintain the required kitchen GP%.
Identify suppliers and ensure a regular supply of stock.
Identify stock losses and help rectify them.
Oversee and ensure monthly stocktakes are completed.
Lead the team during peak shifts to deliver optimum customer satisfaction.
Hire, manage, and train kitchen staff.
Manage the staffing rota to ensure optimum cover for all service times.
Authorise team holiday requests and approve timesheets.
Complete regular 1:1 meetings with team members.
Ensure outstanding customer service, health and safety, and food hygiene compliance at all times.
Coach the team to reduce wait times during both peak and off-peak shifts.
Identify revenue growth opportunities and support their implementation.

Person Specification

We are looking for a candidate with a proven ability to lead and inspire a team, fostering a positive work environment and promoting teamwork. You will possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to effectively interact with customers, staff, and suppliers.

Strong organisational and time management abilities are essential to handle multiple tasks and prioritise effectively, alongside exceptional problem-solving skills and the ability to make quick decisions under pressure.

Essential Requirements:

Culinary & Prep Skills: Passionate chef experienced with pizza ovens, wood-fire cooking, menu development, fresh/local/organic ingredients, and kitchen machinery.
Management & Finance: Experienced line manager adept at managing GP, wastage, staff, and financial targets for small independent businesses.
Training & Mindset: Entrepreneurial, practical, and skilled in formal/informal staff training with basic computer literacy (email, spreadsheets, word-processing).
Compliance & Standards: Responsible regarding hygiene, health & safety, legal guidelines, and high attention to detail.
Work Ethic & Professionalism: Reliable, flexible, conscientious, presentable for an open-plan kitchen, calm under pressure, and keen to learn and support the wider team.

Desirable Criteria:

An interest in real ales and their production.
Curiosity about cooking with beer and brewery by-products.
A shared alignment with our ethos for sustainability.

Benefits

Monthly Taproom Credit: Generous monthly credit to enjoy discounted food, drinks, and merchandise (workwear) in our Taproom (worth £2,300 per year for a full-time employee).
Staff Discounts: 40% off all own-brand products and 20% off all guest/non-own-brand products.
Work-Life Balance: Flexible working week, generous holiday pay, and paid time off to carry out non-commercial, voluntary work or charitable endeavours.
Financial & Perks: Company pension scheme, regular team socials, and free on-site parking.