Sous Chef

Inspired Villages Group; Caddington; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused dining establishment in Caddington is seeking a passionate Sous Chef to join their kitchen team. The role involves preparing high-quality dishes, developing creative menus, and ensuring exceptional dining experiences for residents and guests. Ideal candidates will have experience in fast-paced kitchens, a Level 3 Food Hygiene qualification, and strong culinary skills. This position offers a meaningful career with opportunities for personal and professional growth, along with a variety of attractive benefits including health plans and a matched pension scheme.

Benefits

Bupa Health Cash Plan

Life Assurance

33 days annual leave

Holiday buying scheme

Big birthdays off

5% matched pension scheme

Retail discounts

SMART tech access

Learning and development opportunities

Wellbeing resources

Cycle to work scheme

Electric car scheme

Qualifications

• Experience as a Sous Chef or Chef in a fast-paced kitchen.
• Strong knowledge of cooking methods and kitchen procedures.
• Food Hygiene Level 3 or equivalent required.

Responsibilities

• Assist in managing the kitchen and food service.
• Prepare and cook high-quality dishes.
• Develop creative menus reflecting dietary needs.
• Guide the kitchen team to maintain culinary standards.
• Ensure compliance with food safety policies.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization in the kitchen.
• Deliver an outstanding dining experience.

Skills

Proven experience in high-quality kitchen environments

Strong understanding of cooking methods

Food Hygiene qualification Level 3

Self-motivated and organized

Creativity in food presentation

Job description

We’re driven by a clear purpose: to build real communities that enhance the lives of our residents every single day. With ambitious growth plans, we’re now looking for a Sous Chef to join our kitchen team and help deliver exceptional dining experiences. If you’re seeking a career that means more and gives you more, both personally and professionally, there’s a place for you at Inspired Villages.

As a Sous Chef, you will play a key role in supporting the Head Chef with the day-to-day running of the kitchen. You will prepare, cook, and present high-quality dishes while helping to guide and develop the wider kitchen team. You will champion consistency, creativity, and excellence, ensuring every meal delights our residents and guests.

If you’re ready to build a career with purpose, one that offers genuine development, responsibility, and the chance to make a meaningful impact, we would love to welcome you to Inspired Villages.

The Role

• Assisting in the day-to-day management of the kitchen, delivering high-quality food service across breakfast, lunch, and dinner

• Preparing, cooking, and presenting dishes to a consistently high standard, ensuring quality, taste, and presentation delight our residents

• Contributing to the development of creative, well-balanced menus that reflect resident preferences, dietary needs, and allergen requirements

• Supporting, guiding, and motivating the kitchen team to maintain excellent culinary standards and efficient working practices

• Ensuring full compliance with food safety, hygiene, and operational policies, maintaining a safe and well-organised kitchen environment

• Maintaining exceptional standards of cleanliness and organisation across all kitchen areas

• Delivering an outstanding dining experience for residents and guests, ensuring service is warm, professional, and memorable

Key Requirements

• Proven experience working as a Sous Chef or Chef in a fast-paced, high-quality kitchen environment

• Strong understanding of a wide range of cooking methods, ingredients, equipment, and kitchen procedures

• Food Hygiene qualification at Level 3 (or equivalent) as a minimum

• Self-motivated, organised, and confident working independently while supporting the wider team

• Creative, passionate, and committed to delivering exceptional food design, preparation, nutrition, and presentation

The Benefits

• Bupa Health Cash Plan, including access to an Employee Assistance Programme

• Life Assurance at four times your annual salary

• 33 days annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays

• Holiday buying scheme allowing you to purchase up to an additional week of leave

• Big birthdays off for milestone birthdays ending in 0

• 5% matched pension scheme

• Retail discounts across a wide range of outlets

• Access to SMART tech to support your work and lifestyle

• Ongoing learning and development opportunities to support your career growth

• Wellbeing hub and resources, including discounts on wellbeing interventions

• Cycle to work scheme

• Electric car scheme

At Inspired Villages, we welcome everyone, regardless of background, to join our thriving community. Here, you’ll be included, involved, and inspired to share your unique talents. We are committed to creating a culture of belonging, where individuality is celebrated and you’re empowered to be your best every day.

More enjoyment. More satisfaction. More like one big family. If you’re looking for a career that means more and gives you more, apply today and become part of our community.