Assistant Head Chef - UK

Role overview

This position is for a senior kitchen team member who can step up and take charge when the Head Chef is unavailable. The role suits someone with strong leadership ability and a genuine enthusiasm for food, especially in a busy restaurant environment.

The restaurant is part of a family-style team culture where customers are included in the sense of shared teamwork and service.

Compensation and benefits

Pay is up to £14.25 per hour, with Tronc and additional benefits.

• 50% discount for you, your friends, and family at Zizzi and ASK Italian, including drinks
• Free and heavily discounted food on shift
• Access your earned wages early through Wagestream
• Discounts on cinema, travel websites, and major brands
• Online community access for rotas and payslips
• Free Employee Assistance Programme with GP access and wellbeing support
• 28 days of holiday, pro rata
• Opportunities to grow and move forward in your career
• Company pension contributions
• Branded Zizzi T-shirts and aprons supplied

Key duties

• Take over kitchen leadership when the Head Chef is absent and keep service running smoothly while protecting profitability.
• Know the menu and recipe standards thoroughly, work confidently across any kitchen section, and share that knowledge with the team.
• Prepare shift plans, make sure food levels are set correctly, and assign tasks to team members.
• Work closely with the restaurant team to create great guest experiences and maintain high standards for food quality and presentation.
• Keep the restaurant and kitchen aligned with company policies, procedures, and standards, and ensure the team follows them too.

Company values

The role is guided by the company's values:

• Growth: strive to improve continually as individuals, as a team, and as a business.
• Individuality: appreciate differences and encourage people to be themselves.
• Drive: stay motivated, adapt to challenges, and avoid taking shortcuts.
• Togetherness: support one another and work as a united team through challenges and good times.
• Fun: enjoy the everyday and keep a light-hearted attitude while taking goals seriously.

Culture

Zizzi describes itself as a family where teamwork matters more than individual focus.