Senior Sous Chef

Hickory's Smokehouse; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading hospitality group in Gateshead is looking for a Senior Sous Chef to manage the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence. The position offers a competitive salary of up to £40,000 per year, including great benefits such as excellent training opportunities, work-life balance initiatives, and annual birthday meals. If you're passionate about BBQ and leadership, this is a fantastic opportunity to advance your culinary career in a supportive environment.

Benefits

Generous salary package

Excellent training opportunities

Birthday reward meal

Free BBQ on shift

Christmas Day off

Paid occasion days off

25% discount card

Wellbeing support

Referral scheme rewards

Qualifications

• Experience in a kitchen environment and BBQ cooking.
• Ability to lead and develop a kitchen team.
• Strong work ethic and commitment to quality.

Responsibilities

• Run the kitchen in the Head Chef’s absence.
• Deliver fresh food-based BBQ menu.
• Lead and manage kitchen team effectively.

Skills

BBQ cooking

Leadership

Teamwork

Job description

Start an exciting new chapter in your hospitality career at Hickory's Smokehouse - We arethrilled to have been recently crowned the ‘Best Pub Employer’ for 2025 at The Publican Awards!

Join us as a Senior Sous Chef and we can offer you a generous package of up to £40,000 per year including Tip Jar!

We’re looking for a Senior Sous Chef to join our passionate brigade of BBQ enthusiasts, you will be responsible for running our bespoke kitchen in the Head Chef’s absence, and in doing so you will be working towards becoming a Head Chef yourself. You will be working with and leading the team to deliver authentic fresh food-based BBQ menu in one of the busiest restaurants in town.

As the fastest growing, Southern style Smokehouse group in the UK with an award-winning Hickory’s Training Academy, we can offer you real progression opportunities as we expand. And, we have a company culture that really cares & embraces work-life – balance.

Thank You’s & Benefits:

• A generous Senior Sous Chef package of up to £40,000 per year including Tip Jar!
• The chance to work in one of our £250k bespoke built kitchens, with authentic smokers imported all the way from USA
• Excellent training & progression opportunities – through our award-winning Hickory’s Training Academy
• Birthday reward meal on us for you & your friends - every year
• Free smokin’ BBQ on shift – team food & drinks menu
• Christmas Day off work - every year
• Moments that matter – Paid occasion days off (Wedding day, kid’s first day at school, moving into first home & more)
• Team Player card – 25% discount for you & 5 friends in all Hickory’s (rising to 50% for loyal service)
• Road trips to the Southern States, Europe & UK and stacks of enrichment opportunities
• Wellbeing support & 24-hour access to our wellness programme, plus a Wellbeing Champion in each restaurant to support you
• Our pledge to a work-life balance – monitoring & managing through our Red Zone
• A chance to ‘give a bit back’ with fundraising activities for Cash For Kids
• Up to £1000 for you – through the refer a friend scheme

If that sounds good or does it leave you wanting to find out more? Click ‘apply’ now and you could be our next Senior Sous Chef.