John Lewis Partnership
Sous Chef
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Sous Chef
Sous-Chef – Brownsea Castle Hotel
About the Role Working on an island, living in a castle with red squirrels at your window sounds like a fantasy—but due to the wonderful and unique Brownsea Castle, this truly could be your reality.
Our National Trust-run island by the sea offers an escape to Partners (Co-owners) with history, nature, and an unparalleled stay at a stunning Tudor castle. Nestled amongst 17 acres of private grounds, Italian gardens, and a dedicated beach, Brownsea Castle provides relaxation, nature walks, and endless opportunities to explore.
Set apart from traditional hotels, our employees become owners—affecting how they approach their work and dedication to delivering the best possible experience for guests.
The Experience
With facilities including croquet, children’s play areas, badminton, football, cricket, fishing, archery, and frisbee golf, our guests won’t be lacking in entertainment. But after these adventures, they’ll return hungry—and your fantastic food offerings will help recharge them.
Work Life & Logistics
- Boat Service: Secure private transport from Poole Quay and Salterns Marina (Enterprise-Quay and Castello-Salterns) running 7am–11pm, approximately once per hour.
- Parking:
- Poole: Use the BCP Council Car Park (Quay Visitors Multi-Storey).
- Salterns Marina: On-road parking on Dorset Lakes Road (permit only).
- Transport Note: Buses from Salterns stop at 7pm, meaning all staff must cover late-night shifts beyond this time.
The Role
As Sous-Chef at Brownsea Castle, you’ll join a talented kitchen brigade dedicated to delivering a first-class dining experience for our Partners (co-owner guests).
You’ll be eligible for a Night Premium of £4.25 per hour for shifts worked between 22:00 and 06:00.
Responsibilities
✅ Assist the Head Chef in planning, producing, and delivering the hotel’s food offerings to meet trends, standards, and customer demand.
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✅ Take full responsibility for kitchen operations in the Head Chef’s absence.
✅ Lead a food-compliant team, ensuring HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point), food safety, and hygiene standards are upheld.
✅ Train and develop chefs and kitchen porters, covering all aspects of food preparation, hygiene, safety, and long-term professional growth.
✅ Support performance management by developing staff and ensuring kitchen performance aligns with hotel standards.
✅ Control food and payroll costs to meet fragment profit (FP) and gross profit (GP) targets, ensuring cost-effective rotas.
✅ Drive catering sales to exceed budget and past performance, optimizing food offer availability and front-of-house upselling.
✅ Maintain high product knowledge and expertise.
✅ Conduct daily compliance checks, ensuring:
- Refrigeration temperature recording.
- Cleaning schedules adherence.
- Proper use of chemicals & PPE.
- Allergen management.
- All health & safety (H&S) and food safety policy requirements.
✅ Ensure compliance with Catering legislations, such as food allergen declarations.
✅ Uphold the Partnership’s democratic principles and purpose.
Salary & Terms
- Salary: £30,600 – £41,700 per annum.
- Contract Type: Permanent.
- Working Pattern: 36-hour flexible shifts, including weekends and evenings, as required.
- Location: Brownsea Castle, Pool Harbour, Poole, Dorset BH16 7EE.
Working Environment
The fast-paced kitchen setting is high-pressure, but rewarding. Day-to-day tasks require precise organization, teamwork, and adaptability.
Demand in this Role: 🔹 Food Safety Level 3 qualification. 🔹 Professional chef credentials (e.g., City & Guilds Diploma, BTEC HNC in Professional Cookery). 🔹 Proven leadership & organizational skills. 🔹 Strong financial awareness concerning cost control. 🔹 Ability to interpret and apply food safety policies & HACCP.
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Desirable, but Not Required: 🔹 Strong motivational, coaching, or influencer skills in the kitchen. 🔹 Desire to develop menus creatively and adapt to individual dietary requirements.
About the John Lewis Partnership
As Partners, every employee owns a stake in the business, contributing to—and sharing—the success of the organisation.
Joining John Lewis & Waitrose, the largest employee-owned business in the UK, means: 💡 Belonging to a purpose-driven community—focused on creating happiness, fairness, and kindness for all. 💡 Ownership-driven culture—every Partner shapes the future of the organisation. 💡 Innovation & Flexibility—enabling diverse, adaptable working environments. 💡 Work-Life Balance—flexible hours, compressed contracts, and discussions around further accommodations.
We strive to be brilliant at retail (famous for not underselling) and deliver exceptional omnichannel experiences in retail & groceries.
Additional Notes
⚠️ Employment Checks:
- Certain roles may require background vetting (DBS checks, financial probity checks) as part of our commitment to safeguarding our environment.
🚀 Up-and-A-Comers:
- Certain vacancies may close early if certain thresholds of applications are met. Apply early to avoid disappointment.
#Hashtags #JohnLewisPartnership | #PartnershipHotels #SousChef | #ChefJobs #HospitalityCareers | #UKHospitality #KitchenManagement
Closing Date: July 4, 2026 | Hours per Week: 36 Location: Brownsea Island, Poole | Job Level: Partnership Level 9
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