What does a Head Chef do?
A Head Chef works in a restaurant, hotel, pub, or cafe. Head Chef responsibilities include planning menus, managing stock, overseeing meal presentation, hiring cooks, and managing food safety and hygiene. Head Chefs typically report to a Restaurant Manager, Restaurant Owner, or Hospitality Manager.
Our Head Chef job description includes the Head Chef responsibilities, duties, skills, education, qualifications, and experience.
Head Chef Example
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If you need an example job description for a Head Chef download the one below, alternatively we have many other Hospitality and Leisure job description samples and a job description library with over 3000 job descriptions templates that you can download for free.
What does a Head Chef do?
Head Chef Role
We are seeking a creative and experienced head chef to join our team. As head chef, you will manage the back-of-house. You will run the daily operations of the kitchen, manage the kitchen staff to ensure that the highest quality of food is served to our guests, and ensure that all food and labour cost goals are met.
Head Chef Duties
- Direct all kitchen operations, including food preparation, cooking, and cleanup
- Maintain kitchen equipment as needed
- Supervise chefs and cooks
- Resolve issues as they arise to ensure the continuation of foodservice
- Maintain control of the kitchen to ensure efficiency
- Plan menus and set prices based on the availability of ingredients
- Make sure that all staff adhere to food safety and hygiene regulations to ensure a clean and sanitary kitchen
- Inspect raw and cooked food to guaranty quality
- Collaborate with the general manager and owner to aline kitchen operations with the overarching goals of the establishment
- Direct monthly inventory
- Maintain vender relationships
- Recruit and train chefs and kitchen staff
Head Chef Requirements
- Ability to remain productive in a high pressure environment
- Strong attention to detail
- Creativity
- Ability to oversee and manage kitchen operations
Head Chef Qualifications
The education and formal qualifications for Head Chefs might include the following:
- A Higher National Diploma or Foundation Degree in Culinary Arts, Professional Cookery, or Hospitality Management
- Two A Levels
- Four GCSEs/High School Diploma
Head Chef Desired Experience
The relevant experience of a Head Chef might include working in roles such as Chef, Chef de Cuisine, or Executive Chef, where the individual could develop their food production, leadership, and organisation skills.
Head Chef Training
Possible training of an excellent Head Chef candidate might include:
- Chef de Partie Advanced Apprenticeship
- Senior Chef Advanced Apprenticeship
- Senior Culinary Chef Higher Apprenticeship
- Level 3 Diploma In Advanced Professional Cookery
- Level 4 Diploma in Professional Culinary Arts
- Food Hygiene Certificate
How to write a Head Chef Job Advert
Use our job advert template to write a job advert for posting on job sites and job boards. Our job advertising templates are carefully created to help you reach your audience and beat the competition to the best talent.
A job description informs the reader about a job, whereas a job advert’s main objective is to sell the job opportunity to attract as many suitable applicants possible. A job advert maybe the first touch-point a candidate has with your company so it is important to create a great impression.
Job Advertisements should enticing, so considering using short, exciting language which get the reader’s attention.
How to write a Head Chef Job Description
To write a job description, we recommend starting with a job description template from our job description library, which contains examples for 800+ positions and professions. Our job description examples include a job summary with duties and responsibilities and skills and requirements, which can be personalised for your job vacancy.
Job Description Advice - Guidance on How to Personalise a Head Chef Job Specification
The hiring process and recruiting new employees to fill your key roles requires a degree of personalisation if you are to attract the best employees in a competitive employment market. The right person for a crucial role or more senior roles will likely have other employers targeting them. As your job description will be the first point of contact, you need to nail your pitch and provide the best possible service.
Job Description Tips - Help on formatting a Head Chef Job Specification
When creating your bespoke description and advert, you should cover and promote these points:
Job title: This should accurately reflect the role and include keywords that top talent might be using to search for jobs.
Job duties: The day to day duties, such as administrative tasks, which vary depending on the company and inform the candidate if they can complete the role.
Technical skills: These are the hard skills required through training, such as proficiency with Microsoft Office.
Soft skills: These include the interpersonal skills and general abilities the right candidates will possess. For example, the competency to prioritise multiple tasks, handle customer queries and customer complaints, work alone, or build a good relationship with coworkers.
The company's culture: Highlighting your company culture and values ensures employees thrive and find outstanding job satisfaction. Candidates that are not the right fit won’t waste their time completing the application process, meaning you can focus on qualified individuals and hire in a more timely manner.
Career progression: Including the career path will entice candidates looking for career growth.
Training and development programs: Smaller companies may need employees with previous experience or provide educational assistance over internal training offered by larger organisations with more significant resources.
Employee benefits: Compensation and benefits often fail to appear in job ads and while you may want to hold your cards close to your chest, failing to include them is a mistake. Consider answering common questions, such as working hours and paid leave. Researching the average salary for the role in these early stages will ensure you don’t waste your interviewer’s and the candidate’s time.
Skill gaps: Your company may need to bring in new skills beyond those required to complete the key role and duties. Thinking on an organisational level can be beneficial when contemplating skills diversity.
Legal requirements: Ensure your job advert and description does not ask for inappropriate or discriminatory personal details, such as age, marital status, or religion.
How to Hire a Head Chef
Once you have selected your Job Description download it or convert it to a Job Advert. From here you can post/advertise your job across our network of job boards. If you wish to use the job description for a CV Template click through for advice and Convert to a CV
