University of Manchester Students' Union
Sous Chef
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New Venture: Sous Chef Opportunity
This new venture is our most significant commercial launch in a decade, and the Sous Chef will play an important role in helping build the kitchen operation from day one.
You will support the Head Chef in launching and running the kitchen for a new all-day Oxford Road bar and social venue, delivering a food offer that supports the rhythm of the site from morning coffee and lunch through to early evening, events, group bookings, and pre-gig trade. This is not a fine-dining kitchen, but it is a serious commercial food operation where pace, quality, consistency, organization, and teamwork will really matter.
Responsibilities
- Work closely with the Head Chef to set up the kitchen and build its routines.
- Support food preparation and service.
- Maintain the standards that make the venue successful.
- Lead kitchen shifts.
- Support junior colleagues and studying staff.
- Ensure food quality, kitchen organization, food safety, allergens, stock control, waste, and service speed are consistently well managed.
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Key Requirements
- Strong development opportunity for someone who wants to grow into a senior kitchen leadership role.
- Gain experience of a new opening, commercial kitchen controls, team leadership, service delivery, and the wider role food plays in a busy bar and social venue.
- Help create the kitchen culture from the start: organized, calm, safe, supportive, and proud of the food being served.
The Role's Impact
- The food offer will be central to the success of the venue.
- It needs to work hard commercially, support the bar, deliver value for students, and be strong enough to compete on Oxford Road.
- As Sous Chef, you will help balance speed with quality, consistency with creativity, and affordability with margin.
- Every commercial pound generated by the venue goes back into supporting students at the University of Manchester.
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Team and Collaboration
- You will work as part of the wider Commercial team, alongside colleagues in Manchester Academy Venues, Bar 532 & Kitchen, and Corridor Coffee.
- Contributing to a growing Union hospitality operation with ambition beyond a single site.
Opportunity
- This is a rare opportunity for a hands-on, ambitious Sous Chef to be part of a major new opening and help build a kitchen with real purpose behind it.
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