Head Chef

Cairn Group; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK hospitality company is seeking a Head Chef to lead a dynamic kitchen team and craft seasonal menus. The ideal candidate will have a passion for quality food and strong leadership skills. Responsibilities include managing kitchen operations, ensuring service excellence, and driving profitability through smart menu planning. This role offers a rewarding environment with opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Service Excellence Bonus

Get Paid in Real-Time with Wagestream

Stay, Relax and Recharge discounts

50% off food and drinks

Spa Discounts

Retail, Cinema & Fun Discounts

Career development programs

Superstar Awards

Long-Service Awards

Recommend a Friend bonus

24/7 Employee Assistance Programme

Pension Scheme

Year-Round Incentives

Bereavement Leave

Qualifications

• Experienced Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef.
• Passion for fresh, quality food and seasonal cooking.
• Creative flair with a balance of flavor and cost.
• Calm and organized under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen team to deliver high standards.
• Create seasonal menus reflecting the venue's identity.
• Manage kitchen operations including stock control.
• Ensure compliance with food hygiene and health protocols.
• Control costs and drive profitability.

Skills

Culinary expertise

Leadership

Menu planning

Communication skills

Cost control

Job description

Hospitality Starts Here – Build Your Future with Cairn Group

Are you ready to grow your career in hospitality? At Cairn Group, we believe work should be rewarding, exciting, and full of opportunities to learn and develop. Whether you're creating unforgettable guest experiences or supporting your team, you'll be part of a friendly, supportive environment where your contributions are valued. With the opportunity to learn, develop, and be recognised, Cairn is a place where you can build a career you’re proud of.

About the Role

At Cairn Group, we’re proud to deliver best-in-class hospitality—and that extends to the kitchen. We’re looking for a talented and motivated Head Chef to lead a dynamic kitchen team, craft thoughtful, seasonal menus, and help shape the reputation of our restaurant. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who combines culinary expertise with strong leadership and commercial awareness.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead the kitchen team to deliver consistently high standards of food, service, and safety.
• Create and develop menus that showcase fresh, seasonal ingredients and reflect the style and identity of the venue.
• Manage kitchen operations including rota planning, ordering, stock control, and supplier relationships.
• Ensure all compliance with food hygiene, health & safety, and HACCP protocols.
• Control costs and drive profitability through smart menu planning, waste reduction, and labour management.
• Foster a positive team culture, encouraging learning, development, and performance improvement.
• Work closely with front-of-house and senior management to ensure seamless service and an exceptional guest experience.

About You

• You’re an experienced Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef with a passion for fresh, quality food and seasonal cooking.
• You bring creative flair alongside commercial focus—you understand how to build menus that balance flavour and cost.
• You’re a confident and collaborative leader who takes pride in developing a high-performing team.
• You’re calm, organised, and focused under pressure, with excellent planning and communication skills.
• You’re financially aware, with a good understanding of P&Ls, KPIs, and cost controls.

About Us:

Cairn Group is a leading UK hospitality company with over 60 years of expertise in hotel acquisition, ownership, management, investment, and development. Our journey has been shaped by successful partnerships with global brands and a commitment to creating thriving, guest-focused properties.

At Cairn Group, our values – Respect, Integrity, Sustainability, and Excellence (RISE) – are at the heart of everything we do. We respect our team and guests, act with integrity, and invest in our people to build a sustainable future – for our business, our communities, and the planet. Every day, we work to deliver excellence, going the extra mile to create outstanding experiences for our guests.

Benefits:

• Service Excellence Bonus: Your hard work pays off. Service charge tips and gratuities add a well-earned boost to your pay check.
• Get Paid in Real-Time with Wagestream: Take control of your earnings. Track your pay live, access funds when needed, and get expert financial tips—all in real-time.
• Stay, Relax and Recharge: Enjoy discounted stays across our all our venues. Treat yourself or bring your friends and family along for a well-earned break.
• Delicious Discounts: Indulge a little with 50% off food and drinks across our hotels, bars and restaurants.
• Spa Discounts: Self-care matters! Treat yourself with exclusive wellness offers at our spas and leisure clubs.
• Retail, Cinema & Fun Discounts: Enjoy exclusive access to savings on shopping, cinemas trips and fun days out.
• Rise with Us: From apprenticeships to leadership programs, our development team is here to help you grow and reach your career goals.
• Superstar Awards: Your hard work deserves the spotlight! Each month we celebrate and reward our team members who showcase our values and bring hospitality to life.
• Long-Service Awards: Celebrate key milestones with us, starting from just one year of service—plus enjoy extra annual leave as a thank-you for your commitment.
• Recommend a Friend: Bring great people into the team and earn a bonus when they join!
• 24/7 Support: We’re committed to your wellbeing. Access our confidential Employee Assistance Programme anytime, anywhere.
• Pension Scheme: Plan for your future with our pension plan, designed to help you build long-term security.
• Year-Round Incentives: Enjoy fun incentives, exciting challenges, and surprise perks throughout the year!
• Bereavement Leave: When life gets tough, we ensure you have the time and support you need to be with your loved ones.