Head Chef / Senior Sous Chef

• Head Chef

Thakers – Everyday Indian Kitchen

Job Title

Head Chef

Reports To

Operations Director / Owners

Location

Thakers, 12A High Street Quarter, Hounslow, TW3 1EH

Employment Type

Full-Time

About Thakers

Thakers is a modern British Indian high street restaurant.

Inspired by everyday Indian home cooking, we serve fresh, nourishing food made with care using traditional methods and quality ingredients. Our mission is simple: to become the UK's leading everyday Indian restaurant brand.

This is an opportunity to join at the beginning of an exciting journey and help shape the future of a business with ambitious national expansion plans.

The Role

We are looking for an experienced, passionate and highly organised Head Chef to lead our kitchen operation.

This role is about much more than cooking. You will be responsible for maintaining exceptional food quality, developing your team, driving consistency, controlling costs and ensuring every guest receives an outstanding experience.

You will play a key role in building the operational systems that will support the future growth of the business.

Key Responsibilities

Kitchen Leadership

• Lead and inspire the kitchen team.
• Set standards of professionalism and teamwork.
• Create a positive, respectful and accountable culture.
• Lead by example during every service.

Food Quality

• Ensure every dish is prepared consistently to specification.
• Maintain exceptional presentation and portion control.
• Protect the authenticity and integrity of the Thakers menu.
• Carry out regular quality checks throughout service.

Operations

• Oversee all food preparation and service.
• Ensure efficient kitchen organisation and workflow.
• Manage prep planning and daily production.
• Ensure recipes and procedures are followed precisely.

Food Safety

• Maintain full compliance with Food Hygiene Regulations.
• Ensure HACCP procedures are implemented daily.
• Maintain excellent cleaning standards.
• Prepare for Environmental Health inspections at any time.

Stock & Cost Control

• Manage stock levels efficiently.
• Minimise food waste.
• Complete regular stock takes.
• Control GP through portion control and purchasing discipline.
• Work with suppliers to maintain quality and value.

Team Development

• Recruit, train and develop kitchen staff.
• Coach junior chefs and kitchen assistants.
• Carry out regular performance reviews.
• Build a culture of continuous improvement.

Menu Development

• Work with the owners to refine existing dishes.
• Suggest seasonal specials and improvements.
• Assist with recipe development and standardisation.

Systems & Growth

• Help document recipes, preparation methods and kitchen systems.
• Support the development of training manuals and SOPs.
• Build processes capable of supporting future multi-site expansion.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Minimum 2 years' experience in a senior chef position.
• Experience leading high-volume kitchen operations.
• Strong knowledge of Indian cuisine.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Calm under pressure.
• Strong communication and leadership abilities.
• Excellent understanding of food hygiene and HACCP.
• Experience managing stock, ordering and food costs.

Desirable Experience

• Experience with Gujarati and vegetarian Indian cuisine.
• Experience opening a new restaurant.
• Multi-site or branded restaurant experience.
• Experience creating kitchen systems and training manuals.
• Experience using kitchen management or inventory software.

Personal Attributes

We're looking for someone who

• Takes pride in every plate.
• Leads with humility and professionalism.
• Has exceptional attention to detail.
• Is calm under pressure.
• Is honest, reliable and accountable.
• Enjoys developing people.
• Embraces continuous improvement.
• Thinks commercially as well as creatively.
• Wants to grow with the business.

Success in This Role

Within your first year you will have

• Built a disciplined, motivated kitchen team.
• Delivered consistently outstanding food.
• Maintained excellent food safety standards.
• Achieved strong food cost control.
• Helped establish operational systems ready for future expansion.
• Become a trusted leader within the business.

What We Offer

• Salary: £40,000 per annum
• Full-time, permanent position
• Paid annual leave
• Company pension (where applicable)
• Staff meals during shifts
• Opportunities to help build one of the UK's most exciting modern Indian hospitality brands.
• Performance-related bonus opportunities.
• Career progression within a growing restaurant group.
• Ongoing training and development.
• A supportive, ambitious and family-oriented working environment.

Our Values

At Thakers we believe in

• Doing the simple things exceptionally well.
• Treating everyone with respect.
• Continuous learning and improvement.
• Pride in our food and our people.
• Building a business that lasts for generations.

We are looking for someone who shares these values and wants to be part of something special from the very beginning.