Mirfield
Head Chef - The Navigation Tavern, Mirfield Reports To - General Manager / Owners About Us The Navigation Tavern is a busy, family-owned canalside pub with a reputation for serving high-quality, freshly prepared food alongside an exceptional drinks offering. We pride ourselves on delivering outstanding customer experiences through excellent hospitality, consistency, and creativity in the kitchen. Role Overview We are seeking an experienced, passionate and driven Head Chef to lead our kitchen team. The successful candidate will take full responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the kitchen, delivering consistently high food standards while maintaining excellent hygiene, food safety, and financial performance. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring strong organisational skills, creativity, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced hospitality environment. Key Responsibilities Kitchen Leadership Lead, motivate and develop the kitchen team. Recruit, train and mentor chefs and kitchen assistants. Create a positive, professional and supportive working environment. Manage staff rotas to meet business demands. Food Quality Design and develop seasonal menus and daily specials. Ensure every dish meets the highest standards of quality and presentation. Maintain consistency across all menu items. Monitor customer feedback and continuously improve the food offering. Kitchen Operations Manage all aspects of daily kitchen service. Ensure smooth food preparation and service during busy periods. Maintain kitchen equipment and report maintenance issues promptly. Drive efficiency while maintaining quality. Food Safety & Compliance Ensure full compliance with Food Safety, HACCP and Health & Safety regulations. Maintain excellent food hygiene standards. Keep accurate food safety records. Ensure all staff follow company procedures and legal requirements. Stock & Cost Control Manage food ordering and supplier relationships. Monitor stock levels and minimise waste. Control food costs and achieve agreed GP targets. Carry out regular stock takes and cost analysis. Financial Performance Work within agreed labour and food cost budgets. Identify opportunities to improve profitability. Reduce waste through effective planning and portion control. Essential Skills & Experience Previous experience as a Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef in a busy pub, restaurant or hospitality venue. Strong leadership and team management skills. Excellent knowledge of food safety legislation. Experience with menu development and costing. Ability to work under pressure while maintaining exceptional standards. Strong communication and organisational skills. Passion for fresh, quality food. Desirable Level 3 Food Hygiene qualification. HACCP knowledge. Experience delivering high-volume food service. Experience in stock control and kitchen budgeting. Personal Attributes Passionate about food and hospitality. Calm and organised under pressure. Positive and approachable leader. Reliable with a strong work ethic. Creative and eager to introduce new ideas. Committed to delivering an exceptional guest experience. What We Offer Competitive salary (dependent on experience up to 40K). Opportunities for career development - Head Chef Great working hours 12-8 Monday - Friday. 12-6 Saturday & Sunday. Supportive family-run working environment. Creative freedom to contribute to menu development. Success in the Role The successful Head Chef will consistently deliver high-quality food, maintain excellent kitchen standards, inspire and develop the team, control costs effectively, and contribute to making The Navigation Tavern one of the areas leading food destinations. TPBN1_UKCT