Chef jobs in Henley on Thames

We’re now looking for a Sous Chef to join our kitchen team and help deliver exceptional dining experiences. If you’re seeking a career that means more and gives you more, both personally and professionally, there’s a place for you at Inspired Villages. We’re driven by a clear purpose: to build real communities that enhance the lives of our residents every single day.

As a Sous Chef, you will play a key role in the day-to-day running of the kitchen, supporting the Head Chef in leading the team and maintaining high culinary standards. You will help oversee food preparation, ensure consistency across all services, and contribute to menu development, while continuing to develop your leadership skills.

If you’re ready to build a career with purpose—one that offers genuine progression and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact—we would love to welcome you to Inspired Villages.

The Role

• Supporting the day-to-day running of the kitchen, delivering high-quality food service across breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Assisting the Head Chef with kitchen leadership, including supervising and motivating the team
• Preparing, cooking, and presenting dishes to a consistently high standard, ensuring quality, taste, and presentation delight our residents
• Supporting the delivery of well-balanced menus that reflect resident preferences, dietary needs, and allergen requirements
• Helping manage stock control, ordering, and minimising waste
• Working collaboratively with the kitchen team to maintain excellent culinary standards and efficient working practices
• Ensuring full compliance with food safety, hygiene, and operational policies
• Maintaining high standards of cleanliness and organisation across all kitchen areas
• Contributing to an outstanding dining experience for residents and guests

Key Requirements

• Proven experience working as a Sous Chef or strong Chef de Partie ready to step up in a fast-paced, quality kitchen environment
• Experience supporting kitchen operations and leading or supervising a team
• Strong understanding of cooking methods, ingredients, equipment, and kitchen procedures
• Food Hygiene qualification (Level 2 minimum; Level 3 desirable)
• Organised, reliable, and able to work both independently and as part of a team
• Passionate about food and committed to delivering high-quality dishes

The Benefits

• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays (pro-rated for part-time hours)
• Holiday buying scheme (purchase up to one additional week of leave)
• Big birthdays off (for milestone birthdays ending in 0)
• Life Assurance at 4x your annual salary
• 5% matched pension scheme
• Medicash Health Plan, including Employee Assistance Programme
• Retail discounts across a wide range of outlets
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Electric Car scheme (where applicable)
• Access to SMART tech for everyday convenience
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities
• Wellbeing hub and resources, including discounts on wellbeing initiatives

At Inspired Villages, we welcome everyone, regardless of background, to join our thriving community. Here, you’ll be included, involved, and inspired to share your unique talents. We are committed to creating a culture of belonging, where individuality is celebrated and you’re empowered to be your best every day.

More enjoyment. More satisfaction. More like one big family. If you’re looking for a career that means more and gives you more, apply today and become part of our community!