Kitchen Manager

As Head Chef, you'll lead the heart of our kitchen operation.

You'll be responsible for creating an environment where quality, consistency and teamwork thrive. From developing your team and maintaining food safety standards to managing stock and delivering exceptional dishes, you'll ensure every plate leaving the kitchen reflects the quality Trading Post is known for.

This role is about much more than cooking. It's about leading people, building an engaged kitchen team and creating a culture where everyone takes pride in delivering outstanding food.

As Head Chef, you'll:

· Lead and inspire your kitchen team throughout every service.

· Prepare and oversee the delivery of consistently high-quality food.

· Coach, train and develop chefs and kitchen team members.

· Plan rotas and manage labour effectively to support the needs of the business.

· Manage stock levels, ordering and supplier deliveries to minimise waste and maximise efficiency.

· Ensure food safety, cleanliness and hygiene standards are maintained at all times.

· Monitor food quality, presentation and consistency across every service.

· Work closely with the General Manager to support commercial performance and achieve business objectives.

· Create a positive, organised and supportive kitchen culture where people enjoy coming to work.

In this role, you'll:

· Lead a motivated, well-organised and high-performing kitchen team.

· Deliver consistently exceptional food that exceeds customer expectations.

· Maintain outstanding food hygiene and health & safety standards.

· Develop your team through regular coaching, feedback and support.

· Manage food costs, stock and labour efficiently while maintaining quality.

· Build a kitchen culture based on teamwork, accountability and continuous improvement.

· Ensure every service runs smoothly, even during busy trading periods.

· Be recognised as a trusted leader who supports both your team and the wider Coffee House.

You'll thrive in this role if you:

· Have previous experience leading a busy kitchen.

· Enjoy developing and motivating people.

· Lead with confidence, professionalism and integrity.

· Stay calm and organised under pressure.

· Take pride in delivering consistently high standards.

· Have excellent communication and organisational skills.

· Take ownership of challenges and actively look for solutions.

· Are passionate about fresh food and exceptional hospitality.

Previous experience

We're looking for someone with:

· Experience as a Head Chef, Kitchen Manager or Senior Sous Chef.

· Strong people management and coaching skills.

· Excellent knowledge of food safety, HACCP and kitchen compliance.

· Experience managing food costs, stock control and labour.

· The ability to plan, prioritise and lead a busy kitchen operation.

Bonus points if you have:

· Experience working in a fresh-food environment.

· Experience supporting menu development or seasonal changes.

· Level 3 Food Safety qualification.

· A passion for developing future kitchen leaders.

At Trading Post, we believe our leaders should continue learning throughout their careers.

As Kitchen Manager / Head Chef, you'll continue developing your leadership, operational and commercial skills through structured coaching, leadership development and ongoing support.

Whether your ambition is to lead larger operations, mentor future chefs or contribute to wider food development across the business, we'll help you build the experience and confidence to achieve your goals.

We're proud of the culture we've built.

We're passionate about coffee, but we're equally passionate about people.

We work hard, support one another, celebrate success and believe that every team member contributes to creating exceptional experiences for our guests.

As Kitchen Manager / Head Chef, you'll help shape that culture by building a kitchen where people feel supported, challenged and inspired to do their best work every day.

We're looking for leaders who set high standards whilst creating an environment built on trust, teamwork and continuous development.

If you're passionate about leading great people, delivering exceptional food and making a real impact, we'd love to hear from you.

Please submit your CV along with your application.

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.

Trading Post Coffee Roasters is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, respected and able to thrive. We want every candidate to have the best possible experience, so if there's anything we can do to support you during the recruitment or interview process, please let us know.