Kitchen Manager | Destination Smokehouse | Dorset

£40,000–£45,000 + 45-hour working week

Imagine working in a restaurant where authentic Texas-style barbecue, historic aircraft and panoramic countryside views come together to create a destination in its own right.

COREcruitment is working with a unique hospitality venue in the Dorset countryside to find a Kitchen Manager who can take ownership of the kitchen operation, lead a team and maintain the highest standards of food quality, organisation and food safety.

Set at a historic hilltop airfield on the edge of the Cranborne Chase National Landscape, just south of Shaftesbury, the venue offers a working environment unlike a conventional restaurant.

Guests visit for the food, the aviation heritage, the spectacular views and the experience of watching aircraft come and go.

The food offering centres on authentic, Texas-inspired smokehouse cooking, with meat smoked on site using specialist smoking equipment.

The venue also welcomes visitors for events, live music and aviation gatherings, creating a varied hospitality operation with plenty going on throughout the year.

For someone who enjoys leading a kitchen in a setting with real character, this is an opportunity worth exploring.

We’re looking for a hands-on Kitchen Manager, Head Chef or experienced Sous Chef ready to take responsibility for the daily running of the kitchen.

You’ll have the support of an experienced Executive Head Chef and senior operations team.

Menu development will initially sit with the Executive Head Chef, allowing you to concentrate on building a well-run kitchen, developing your team and delivering consistent standards.

As you establish yourself, there will be opportunities to contribute ideas and help shape the future food offering.

Your responsibilities will include:

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  Leading the kitchen team through preparation and service, setting clear expectations and maintaining standards.

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  Taking full ownership of food safety, HACCP procedures and kitchen documentation.

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  Ensuring temperature checks, date labelling, shelf life, storage and stock rotation are completed correctly.

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  Maintaining accurate allergen information and ensuring the team follows procedures consistently.

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  Keeping the kitchen clean, organised and ready for inspection.

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  Delivering consistent food quality, portion control and presentation in line with agreed recipes.

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  Managing ordering, stock levels, waste and food costs to support gross profit targets.

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  Planning rotas and deploying the team effectively around business needs.

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  Training, supporting and holding team members accountable.

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  Working closely with the General Manager and senior culinary team to improve performance.

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  Contributing ideas to menu development as you grow into the role.

You’ll be a practical, organised kitchen leader who takes pride in running a safe, disciplined and well-prepared kitchen.

You might already be a Kitchen Manager or Head Chef, or you could be an experienced Sous Chef looking for a role with greater responsibility.

You’ll need:

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  Experience leading a professional kitchen and managing a team.

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  Strong knowledge of food hygiene, HACCP and food safety documentation.

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  A thorough approach to temperature monitoring, cleaning schedules, date labelling and food storage.

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  The ability to deliver consistent food from established recipes and specifications.

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  Experience with stock control, ordering, waste management and kitchen costs.

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  The confidence to train your team, set expectations and address issues promptly.

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  A calm, organised approach to busy services and changing operational demands.

A suitable food safety qualification is expected.

Level 3 Food Safety and experience with EHO inspections or external audits would be advantageous.

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  £40,000–£45,000 per annum, depending on experience plus tips

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  A 45-hour working week.

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  Support from an experienced senior culinary and operations team.

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  Clear ownership of the day-to-day kitchen operation.

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  The opportunity to contribute to future menu development.

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  A distinctive workplace combining smokehouse cooking, aviation heritage and the Dorset countryside.

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  The chance to build a strong team and make a visible difference to the operation.

If you’re a kitchen professional who enjoys taking responsibility, developing people and maintaining high standards, we’d like to hear from you.

Send COREcruitment your CV along with a short introduction outlining your kitchen leadership experience and approach to food safety.

Apply today to find out more about this Kitchen Manager opportunity in Dorset.