Sous Chef for Luxury Country Hotel and Wellness Retreat

Sous Chef for Luxury Country Hotel and Wellness RetreatRead on to fully understand what this job requires in terms of skills and experience If you are a good match, make an application.Salary: £50,000 gross p.a. + benefitsLocation: Dorset, UKStart Date: ImmediateContract: Permanent | 5 day working week with a rota shift scheduleOplu 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 & StructureReporting to: Head ChefLine management: Jnr Sous Chef, Chef de Partie, Commis and Kitchen TechniciansBrigade size: 8 full-time Chefs plus casual and temporary ChefsPackage & 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. xpwpeyx If you do not hear from us within 14 days, please assume your application has not been successful on this occasion.