Restaurant Vacancy jobs in Leeds

Kitchen Assistant Manager

At Buckle Up Cowgirl, we're building something different.

We're looking for a Kitchen Assistant Manager to take ownership of our brand-new kitchen operation and help us get it running properly from day one. This isn't a large restaurant kitchen. It's a small, focused operation serving a simple menu built around pizzas, hot dogs, and quick-service food designed to complement one of Leeds' most exciting nightlife venues.

You'll be responsible for one Kitchen Assistant and will have genuine ownership over kitchen standards, processes, safety, and day-to-day operation.

The Role

We're looking for someone who can hit the ground running and build the foundations of a great kitchen operation.

You'll be responsible for:

• Designing and implementing kitchen opening procedures
• Designing and implementing kitchen closing procedures
• Training and developing kitchen staff
• Managing kitchen health and safety compliance
• HACCP implementation and record keeping
• Temperature checks and safety logs
• Allergen management and documentation
• Stock management and stocktakes
• Consumables ordering and control
• Kitchen cleaning standards
• Food quality and presentation standards
• EHO readiness and compliance
• Kitchen reporting and record management
• Managing day-to-day service standards
• Ensuring consistency across all menu items

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Level 2 Food Safety & Hygiene Certificate (or willingness to obtain immediately upon appointment)
• Previous experience working within a commercial kitchen environment
• Experience maintaining food safety records and compliance documentation
• Experience supervising, training, or leading team members
• Good understanding of HACCP principles and kitchen health & safety requirements

Desirable

• Level 3 Food Safety & Hygiene Certificate
• HACCP qualification or formal HACCP training
• COSHH awareness training
• Fire Safety Awareness training
• Experience preparing for EHO inspections
• Experience creating kitchen procedures, systems, and operational documentation
• Experience managing stock, ordering, and inventory controls

About You

You don't need experience running a large restaurant kitchen, but you do need to be organised, proactive, and capable of taking ownership.

You'll be the sort of person who enjoys building systems, creating structure, maintaining standards, and solving problems before they become issues.

You'll be comfortable:

• Working independently
• Taking ownership of compliance and safety
• Training and supporting others
• Maintaining accurate records
• Holding high standards every day
• Building processes that make the kitchen run smoothly

Most importantly, you'll take pride in creating an organised, compliant, and efficient operation.

What We Offer

• £14.00–£15.00 per hour depending on experience
• Guaranteed 32 hours per week
• Genuine ownership of your department
• Opportunity to shape a new operation from the ground up
• Staff discount
• Career progression opportunities as the business grows
• A fun, energetic working environment unlike anywhere else in Leeds

Application Question

As part of your application, please answer the following:

Please briefly describe a kitchen process, system, or procedure that you have personally created, improved, or implemented. What was the issue, what did you change, and what was the result?

We're particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate ownership, initiative, and an ability to build effective systems rather than simply follow them.

If you're the type of person who enjoys creating order, building processes, and taking ownership of a kitchen operation, we'd love to hear from you.

Pay: £14.00-£14.50 per hour

Application question(s):

• Please briefly describe a kitchen process, system, or procedure that you have personally created, improved, or implemented. What was the issue, what did you change, and what was the result?

Work Location: In person