A bit about us.
Grind is a hospitality company that lives in London. Since opening Shoreditch Grind in 2011, the brand has expanded across London with restaurants and café-bars, burning the candle at both ends to serve coffee, food, and cocktails to a killer soundtrack.
Our cafés and coffee shops were where Grind all began, and they're still the beating heart of Grind. They're vibrant, exciting and sometimes high-pressure places to work.
We think coffee can be a force for good. Whether it's through creating the UK's first compostable coffee pods, our plastic-free packaging or carbon-free shipping - we're on a mission to be the world's most sustainable coffee company.
In 2023, we created our charity, the Better Coffee Foundation, to undo the damage done by the global coffee industry - in our first year, we recovered 43 million pods' worth of ocean-bound plastic.
A bit about the role.
The right candidate must have a hands-on approach to supporting a small group of talented and experienced Head Chefs and their teams. Being present and working in our kitchens is essential in supporting our Head Chefs to deliver on Grinds brand standards and the development of our chef brigade. (A combination of weekends and evening availability are a must).
You will need to be competent liaising with all of our food suppliers to ensure our product quality is of the highest level and that their service is efficient. Any issues in the food supply chain would need to be managed directly with specific suppliers. Long-term solutions are essential.
This role requires a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of allergens, daily due diligence, food safety and food hygiene, health and safety, COSHH, HACCP and EHO best practices.
Role responsibilities.
* Lead food innovation and menu development across the group, working closely with our Head Chefs to create exciting, high-quality dishes that align with our brand and customer expectations.
* Invest in chef development by mentoring, training, and upskilling teams to enhance their knowledge, technique, and career progression within the company.Champion food cost management, ensuring that food margins meet budget targets while maintaining quality.
* Provide coaching and support to Head Chefs to help them optimise costs without compromising on standards.
* You will need to travel to support Grind's expansion. On occasion this may mean you will need to stay overnight for extended periods of time.
* Ensure all ingredients are sourced from approved suppliers to guarantee consistency, quality, and margin control, while also exploring sustainable and ethical sourcing opportunities.
* Drive a culture of sustainability in our kitchens by actively reducing food waste through smarter prep, portion control, and innovative ways to repurpose ingredients.
* Support and train teams on stock management, leading monthly stock takes, analysing variance reports, and working with chefs to improve processes, ultimately closing the gap between theoretical and actual margins.
* Create a positive and inclusive kitchen culture where all chefs feel supported, valued, and motivated. Build strong relationships between the kitchen and front-of-house teams to ensure smooth service and a collaborative environment.
* Be actively involved in chef recruitment and retention, ensuring the hiring of top talent, supporting Head Chefs in building strong teams, and overseeing the onboarding process to maintain high standards and Grind values.
You’ll have.
* At least 3 years experience in a Head Chef position or 1 years experience in an Executive Chef / Group Head Chef position in a Cafe / restaurant environment
* Proven track record of coaching and training kitchen staff of all levels
* Good communication skills to enable effective dialogue between site staff and the support team
* The ability to manage large teams of 50+ back-of-house staff
* A strong business acumen and the ability to read and analyse a P&L
* Proficient in BOH systems with previous experience working with procurement, recipe development and scheduling software
* Strong time-management and organisational skills
* The ability to lead a busy service so you can set the standard of what good looks like.
* A positive attitude and leadership approach to motivate and encourage a team of aspiring chefs
* The ability to think on the spot and react concisely and calmly to the situation at hand
* Results driven whilst fostering a collaborative environment
Diversity and Inclusion.
Grind is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, veteran status, or disability status.
If there are any adjustments you need to help you bring your best self to an interview with us please let us know.
Benefits and perks
* 25 days of holiday per annum plus bank holiday
* An additional holiday per year of service, capped at 3 days
* Access to our company wellness scheme
* Full access to our Mental Health Service - at all times of the year
* Research & development allowance to dine out a local restaurants to draw inspiration and efficiencies from
* £200 Wellness Allowance per annum
* Invitation to Grind social events
* Great company staff discounts for friends and family
* Career development opportunities in a wide range of training programmes
Salary
£70,000 - £80,000