Sous Chef | Solina Cardiff

About Solina

Solina serves delicious, quick and affordable handmade pasta. Our menu champions Italian flavour combinations and quality British produce. Guests can expect comforting dishes including ragùs, ravioli and cacio e pepe, prepared with care and served with warm, genuine hospitality. Our pasta is made fresh in-house every day by our kitchen team. From rolling and shaping to filling and cutting, there’s real skill and care behind every plate. It’s something we’re incredibly proud of and a brilliant opportunity to develop your craft while creating food that feels genuinely special!

The Role

We’re looking for a Sous Chef who can help lead a busy kitchen, bring out the best in the team and keep standards high from preparation through to the final plate.

Working closely with the Head Chef, you’ll play a key role in running the kitchen. You’ll lead services, manage stock and ordering, support rotas and make sure food safety is always taken seriously.

You’ll also help train and develop our chefs, sharing your knowledge and creating a kitchen where people can learn, progress and enjoy what they do.

What You’ll Be Getting Stuck Into

Supporting the Head Chef with the day-to-day running of the kitchen
Taking full responsibility for the kitchen in the Head Chef’s absence
Planning and leading organised, efficient services
Keeping every dish consistent in flavour, presentation and portion size
Making sure preparation is completed and every section is ready for service
Managing ordering, stock levels, deliveries and stocktakes
Supporting rotas and making sure the kitchen has the right people in the right places
Monitoring food costs, portion control and waste
Working with the Head Chef on menu development, dish costing and new ideas
Keeping communication flowing between the kitchen and front of house

Food, Preparation and Service

Make sure every dish is prepared to Solina’s recipes and specifications
Organise daily preparation and oversee mise en place across the kitchen
Check the quality, freshness and presentation of food throughout the day
Lead the kitchen through busy services while maintaining speed and quality
Make confident decisions and resolve issues as they arise
Maintain high standards across every section of the kitchen
Support tastings and the introduction of new dishes and processes
Make sure the team understands any menu changes, specials and allergens before service

Leading the Team

Lead by example and bring positive energy to every shift
Give clear direction before, during and after service
Supervise, motivate and support the kitchen team
Train and develop chefs, apprentices and kitchen assistants
Share your knowledge and demonstrate the right techniques
Give clear and constructive feedback
Support the Head Chef with rotas, performance and team development
Make sure mandatory training is completed and kept up to date
Encourage teamwork, accountability and respect
Build a positive kitchen culture where people feel supported to learn
Keep communication between the kitchen and front-of-house teams clear and constructive

Stock and Cost Control

Manage ordering and maintain agreed stock levels
Check deliveries for quality, quantity and accuracy
Build positive and professional relationships with suppliers
Make sure ingredients are labelled, dated, stored and rotated correctly
Support accurate weekly and monthly stocktakes
Monitor food costs, portion control and waste
Investigate stock differences and take action where needed
Report shortages, quality concerns and delivery issues quickly
Make sure the kitchen has enough stock for service

Food Safety and Compliance

Lead on food safety, hygiene and health and safety standards
Make sure all required checks are completed correctly and recorded on Food Alert
Maintain high standards of cleanliness and organisation throughout the kitchen
Follow HACCP standards and make sure the whole team does the same
Ensure food is stored, labelled, dated and rotated safely
Follow Solina’s allergen management procedures every time
Carry out regular kitchen cleanliness and safety checks
Make sure equipment is used correctly and kept in good working order
Report faults and maintenance issues promptly
Speak up and take action whenever something falls below standard

What You’ll Bring

Experience as a Sous Chef or strong Junior Sous Chef in a busy kitchen
Confidence leading shifts and taking responsibility for kitchen operations
A genuine love of food and pride in every plate
Strong knowledge of food preparation, stock management and cost control
The ability to train, motivate and develop a kitchen team
Clear communication and strong organisational skills
A calm and practical approach when service gets busy
Good knowledge of food safety, allergens, HACCP and health and safety
A willingness to get involved and support the team wherever needed
Flexibility to work evenings, weekends and busy trading periods
Ideally, a serious appreciation for pasta

What’s in It for You?

Career opportunities and progression within a growing group
25% discount across our restaurants, bars and retail businesses
Apprenticeship schemes and ongoing professional development
50% off the menu while working
On-demand wellbeing support
WSET, health and safety, and first-aid training opportunities
Enough pasta knowledge to become everyone’s go-to dinner party guest