Sous Chef for Luxury Country Hotel and Wellness Retreat

Sous Chef for Luxury Country Hotel and Wellness Retreat Salary: £50,000 gross p.a. + benefits Location: Dorset, UK Start Date: Immediate Contract: Permanent | 5 day working week with a rota shift schedule Oplu is partnering with a luxury country hotel and wellness retreat with an on-site farm to appoint a dynamic Sous Chef. This is a key role supporting the Head Chef in delivering a market-leading, farm-to-table culinary experience within a refined, 5-star environment. Job Overview: This is a hands-on position suited to an ambitious chef who thrives in luxury hospitality. You will work with exceptional home-grown produce, contribute to seasonal menu development and support a tight-knit brigade in delivering high-end guest dining experiences. Requirements: • Minimum 3 years’ experience as a Sous Chef in luxury fine dining, a 5-star hotel or an award-winning restaurant. • Strong farm-to-table mindset with a passion for provenance, sustainability and seasonal cooking. • Full driving licence and ability to commute or relocate to Dorset. A relocation package is available. • Confident leading a brigade and maintaining daily standards of quality, flavour and consistency. • Deep understanding of food safety, kitchen hygiene and UK hospitality compliance standards. • Collaborative, organised and calm under pressure with excellent attention to detail. Key Responsibilities: Culinary & Guest Experience • Create and deliver inspired, seasonal menus grounded in farm-to-table principles and provenance. • Maintain the highest standards of taste, presentation, temperature and timing across breakfast, lunch and dinner service. • Oversee mise-en-place and daily service to ensure consistent fine dining execution. • Liaise with Garden and Farm teams to plan production and maximise the use of home-grown ingredients. • Engage confidently with guests when required, enhancing the luxury retreat experience. Kitchen Operations & Standards • Maintain clean, organised and fully stocked preparation and service areas. • Implement portion control and waste-reduction practices in line with company guidelines. • Safeguard kitchen equipment and utensils, managing loss, misuse and breakages. • Coordinate with Service, Housekeeping and Guest Relations to support seamless service delivery. Health, Safety & Compliance • Act as a competent person for Food Safety and Health & Safety within the kitchen. • Ensure full compliance with UK Food Standards, HACCP, COSHH and internal hotel policies. • Maintain rigorous hygiene, cleaning and maintenance schedules, including temperature, storage and expiry checks. • Ensure correct use of PPE and safe operation of all kitchen machinery and equipment. Team Leadership & HR • Support the Head Chef in leading the brigade, including Jnr Sous, Chef de Partie, Commis and Kitchen Technicians. • Prepare kitchen rotas, manage hours and monitor lieu time in line with business requirements. • Brief, train and mentor the team on standards, SOPs, presentation, portion control and fine dining expectations. • Identify training needs and contribute to a positive, professional and high-performing kitchen culture. Financial & Commercial • Assist the Head Chef with financial controls, procurement and stock management. • Help maintain budgeted food cost percentages through accurate stock handling and effective waste control. • Check deliveries for quality, quantity and correct documentation. Additional Information: Team & Structure Reporting to: Head Chef Line management: Jnr Sous Chef, Chef de Partie, Commis and Kitchen Technicians Brigade size: 8 full-time Chefs plus casual and temporary Chefs Package & Benefits • Hours: 40 hours per week, including weekends, early mornings and late evenings as required. • Bonus: Up to 10 percent of salary based on set KPIs (pro-rata in year one). • Private Medical Insurance: Voluntary inclusion. • Pension Scheme: Voluntary inclusion with mutual company investment. • Holiday: 25 days per annum plus public holidays. Please note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear from us within 14 days, please assume your application has not been successful on this occasion.