Chef Job Description
Hire a dependable chef to run kitchen preparation, deliver consistently good dishes and support service during busy shifts. Use this template to set clear expectations on skills, shift patterns and the level of autonomy you require.
What does a Chef professional do?
A chef prepares and cooks food, manages kitchen stations, maintains hygiene standards and often helps control stock, portioning and basic menu execution.
Chef job description template
Use this employer-ready example as a starting point, then replace the placeholders and adjust the content so it accurately reflects your vacancy.
Chef
About the role
We are looking for a competent Chef to join our [KITCHEN/RESTAURANT/CATERING TEAM] in [LOCATION]. You will prepare dishes to standard, manage a station during service, keep the kitchen clean and stocked, and work to health and safety procedures. Shift patterns include evenings and weekends. Please include your availability and relevant food hygiene training when applying.
Key responsibilities
- Prepare, cook and finish menu items to the required recipe and portion sizes
- Work a designated station (e.g. hot, cold, grill, pastry) and hand over tasks to the next shift
- Maintain high standards of food hygiene and cleanliness throughout service and during closing procedures
- Receive and check deliveries, rotate stock, label food and report shortages or quality issues
- Follow allergen and dietary requirements, and record necessary information for front-of-house
- Assist with basic food preparation and mise en place to maintain service flow
- Monitor food waste and portion control; follow instructions for cost-conscious preparation
- Support colleagues during busy periods and communicate clearly with front-of-house staff
Essential skills and experience
- Previous kitchen experience in a professional setting (restaurants, pubs, catering)
- Relevant food hygiene training (e.g. Level 2 or equivalent) or demonstrable knowledge of safe food handling
- Ability to work evenings, weekends and variable shift patterns
- Good knife skills, portioning and basic cooking techniques
- Physical fitness for standing for long periods and handling hot equipment safely
- Right to work in the UK
Desirable
- Professional culinary qualification (NVQ/City & Guilds/Apprenticeship)
- Experience supervising a small team or running a station (chef de partie)
- Allergen awareness training and experience cooking for special diets
- Basic knowledge of stock control, ordering and cost management
- Experience with the establishment’s style of cuisine (e.g. modern European, pan-Asian, pastry)
What we offer
- Holiday entitlement (placeholder)
- Employer pension contribution (placeholder)
- Free or subsidised staff meals
- Opportunities for training and progression (placeholder)
- Uniform or uniform allowance (placeholder)
- Shift pay enhancements or tips/shared gratuities (placeholder)
How to apply
Apply with your CV and any additional information requested. Make the interview process, closing date and any assessment stages clear where known.
Use this as a starting point rather than a final advert. The strongest version will reflect the real role, salary, location, systems, responsibilities, benefits and working arrangements.
What is a Chef role?
A chef works in a professional kitchen preparing and cooking food to menu standards, maintaining hygiene and safety throughout service. They operate at an assigned station, follow recipes and portion controls, and support stock management. Chefs often work shifts, including evenings and weekends, and collaborate closely with front-of-house to deliver a consistent customer experience.
Core tasks
Cooking, plate finishing, mise en place and daily cleaning to meet service demands.
Working hours
Shift-based: evenings, weekends and occasional split shifts are common.
Team structure
Works within a kitchen brigade — reports to sous/head chef and may supervise junior staff.
Career progression
Paths include chef de partie, sous chef, head chef or specialist roles such as pastry chef or catering manager.
Typical Chef responsibilities
Responsibilities should reflect the real scope of the vacancy rather than every task someone in this profession might ever complete.
Prepare
Prepare, cook and finish menu items to the required recipe and portion sizes
Work a designated station (e.g. hot
Work a designated station (e.g. hot, cold, grill, pastry) and hand over tasks to the next shift
Maintain high standards of food hygiene
Maintain high standards of food hygiene and cleanliness throughout service and during closing procedures
Receive
Receive and check deliveries, rotate stock, label food and report shortages or quality issues
Follow allergen
Follow allergen and dietary requirements, and record necessary information for front-of-house
Assist with basic food preparation
Assist with basic food preparation and mise en place to maintain service flow
Monitor food waste
Monitor food waste and portion control; follow instructions for cost-conscious preparation
Support colleagues during busy periods
Support colleagues during busy periods and communicate clearly with front-of-house staff
Chef skills and experience to look for
Keep the essential list focused on what the person really needs to perform the role. Move useful-but-trainable experience into desirable criteria.
Usually worth prioritising
- Previous kitchen experience in a professional setting (restaurants, pubs, catering)
- Relevant food hygiene training (e.g. Level 2 or equivalent) or demonstrable knowledge of safe food handling
- Ability to work evenings, weekends and variable shift patterns
- Good knife skills, portioning and basic cooking techniques
- Physical fitness for standing for long periods and handling hot equipment safely
- Right to work in the UK
Useful where relevant
- Professional culinary qualification (NVQ/City & Guilds/Apprenticeship)
- Experience supervising a small team or running a station (chef de partie)
- Allergen awareness training and experience cooking for special diets
- Basic knowledge of stock control, ordering and cost management
- Experience with the establishment’s style of cuisine (e.g. modern European, pan-Asian, pastry)
See our guide to what to include in a job advert before publishing.
How to write a Chef job advert
Small role-specific details can make the advert much easier for suitable candidates to assess.
Specify the cuisine and duties
State the style of food and the station the role will cover so candidates can judge fit quickly.
Be clear about shifts
List typical hours, weekly patterns and any late finishes or split shifts to reduce unsuitable applications.
List must-haves vs nice-to-haves
Separate essential certifications and experience from desirable qualifications like management training.
Mention practical perks
Note staff meals, uniform provision, tips policy and training opportunities — these matter to chefs.
Chef salary considerations
Chef pay varies widely. Employers should consider factors that determine compensation — seniority, venue type, location and shift patterns — rather than relying on a single market number. Provide a realistic range in adverts and be transparent about any additional shift premiums, tips or benefits.
depending on experience
- Use a genuine range
- Separate variable pay
- Avoid “competitive” alone
- Match salary to seniority
What Chef candidates will want to know
Practical details can influence whether a suitable candidate applies, even when the title and salary are attractive.
What are the usual shift patterns and weekly hours?
Candidates want to know start/finish times, number of shifts per week and whether split shifts or late finishes are common.
How are tips and gratuities handled?
Explain whether tips are pooled, distributed to staff, or paid to front-of-house only, and whether they supplement basic pay.
How large is the kitchen team and who will I report to?
Applicants need clarity on team size, supervisor structure and the level of autonomy expected.
Is there a probation period and what are the notice terms?
Outline probation length, standard notice during probation and once confirmed in post.
Is staff accommodation or support available?
If you offer housing, travel assistance or relocation support, state the type and any eligibility.
What training and progression are available?
Candidates want to know about skills training, development pathways and opportunities to move up.
Where to post a Chef job
Recruitment for chefs works best across a mix of general UK job boards and hospitality-specific channels. Use industry-focused sites and recruitment agencies for experienced or niche chefs, and local college or apprenticeship networks to reach entry-level candidates. For senior roles consider professional networks and targeted advertising in culinary communities; for frontline positions include local channels and social media to attract staff willing to work local shifts.
Chef job description FAQs
Do I have to pay candidates for a trial shift?
Yes — trial shifts should be paid at least at the national minimum wage for the time worked. Treat trial shifts as work, not unpaid auditions, and confirm terms in advance.
Is a food hygiene certificate mandatory?
A food hygiene certificate is widely expected and demonstrates safe handling knowledge; Level 2 is commonly required for operational roles and higher levels for senior positions.
Should I advertise a salary range?
Yes. Providing a realistic salary range and noting any extras (tips, shift premiums, staff meals) helps set expectations and improves application quality.
Can I ask about right to work and references?
You should confirm a candidate’s legal right to work in the UK before employment and normally take up references. Carry out checks consistently to avoid discrimination.
What length of probation is typical for chef roles?
Probation periods of one to three months are common, allowing time to assess performance during typical service patterns; ensure this is clear in the contract.
Ready to post your Chef vacancy?
Use this template to build a clear advert that attracts suitable kitchen candidates. Include shift details, essential qualifications and the main benefits to improve the quality of applications.
