Location: Multi-Site (Based Staffordshire)
Reporting To: Operations Director
About Parogon
The Parogon Group is an award-winning hospitalitybusiness operating a collection of premium fresh food restaurants and barsacross the Midlands and North West. With 12 venues and over 700 team members,our ambition is simple: to create experiences and uncompromised value thatpeople want to return to and careers that people are proud to build.
Our portfolio spans multiple high volume concepts,from premium steak and grill restaurants to elevated gastro pubs, all-dayMediterranean dining, BBQ grill and contemporary casual concepts. Across thegroup, we serve everything from Sunday roasts, steak and ale pie, scotch eggs andfish and chips to sushi, Wagyu, tapas-inspired dishes and smashed burgers. Thisrole requires a culinary leader who can successfully operate across diversebrands and cuisines while maintaining exceptional standards, consistency andcommercial performance.
We are looking for an exceptional Executive Chef tolead our culinary strategy. At the heart of the role is a commitment todelivering food that guests want to return for time and time again. The focusis not on unnecessary complexity, but on exceptional ingredients, consistencyof execution and memorable dining experiences that reinforce Parogon’s positionas one of the UK’s leading independent hospitality groups. We are hiringsomebody who can genuinely lead a £30m+ multi-site food operation.
The Role
As Executive Chef, you will be responsible forleading all culinary operations across the Parogon Group. This is a seniorleadership position that combines food innovation, people development,operational excellence and commercial performance.
Working closely with the Operations Director,Managing Director and senior leadership team, you will shape the future of ourfood offer, ensuring our menus remain relevant, exciting and commerciallysuccessful while maintaining the consistency and standards our guests expect.
This rolecarries significant freedom and autonomy, but with that comes an expectation ofvisibility and leadership. We are not looking for an Executive Chef who managesthe business from an office. We expect our culinary leader to spend at leasttwo days per week in our kitchens, working alongside teams, coaching chefs andleading from the front. The successful candidate must be fully operationalacross all sections and comfortable stepping into service when required. Credibilityis earned through action. We expect our culinary leader to set standards in thekitchen as well as in the boardroom.
Key Responsibilities
Culinary Leadership
- Work with the current development and execution strategy and evolveover time.
- Create and evolve dishes across all concepts and brands.
- Identify emerging food trends and opportunities that support thecommercial objectives of the business.
- Lead all food launches, menu rollouts and culinary innovationprojects.
Leadership & TeamDevelopment
- Lead, coach and develop a team of Head Chefs and Operations Chefs.
- Build succession plans for all key kitchen leadership roles.
- Identify and nurture future culinary talent across the group.
- Create a culture of high performance, accountability and continuousdevelopment.
- Support recruitment, onboarding and retention of key kitchen teammembers.
Commercial Performance
- Take ownership of food gross profit performance across the group.
- Work closely with the commercial team on menu engineering, pricingand profitability.
- Manage kitchen labour performance alongside venue leadership teams.
- Support annual budgeting and forecasting processes.
- Analyse performance data and implement plans to improve results.
- Experienceusing Tevalis and integrated stock control systems is advantageous.
Operational Excellence
- Ensure all kitchens operate safely and efficiently.
- Maintain exceptional 5* food safety standards and audit complianceacross the group.
- Drive consistency in systems, processes and ways of working.
- Lead action plans following audits and compliance reviews.
- Work with Property and Operations teams to ensure kitchens remainfit for purpose.
Guest Experience
- Champion a guest-first approach across all culinary operations.
- Monitor guest feedback, NPS scores and review platforms.
- Ensure food remains a key driver of guest satisfaction and loyalty.
- Support marketing activity, food photography, PR initiatives andvenue openings.
What We’re Looking For
Experience
- Proven experience as an Executive Chef, Group Executive Chef orsenior multi-site culinary leader of leading brand in the UK.
- Demonstratedability to lead multiple concepts and menu styles simultaneously.
- Strong track record of leading large kitchen teams across multiplehigh volume venues.
- Experience operating within premium dining, gastro pub, restaurant andfunction environments.
- Demonstrable success in delivering food quality, team developmentand commercial performance in a comparable environment.
- Experience of menu development, costing and food innovation.
Skills & Attributes
- A natural leader who inspires, coaches and develops others.
- Strong commercial awareness with a deep understanding of GP, labourand operational KPIs.
- Exceptional standards and attention to detail.
- Highly organised with strong planning and project managementskills.
- Ability to balance creativity with operational practicality.
- Comfortable challenging performance and driving accountability.
- Passionate about hospitality, food and developing people.
Qualifications
- Advanced Food Safety qualification (Level 4 preferred).
- Strong understanding of food safety, allergens and compliancerequirements.
- Relevant culinary qualifications desirable but not essential.
Hands-On Leadership
- Remains operationally credible and comfortable working serviceswhen required.
- Leads from the front and maintains a visible presence across theestate.
- Spends significant time in kitchens coaching teams and developingstandards.
- Understands that the role requires equal focus on people,operations and food.
What Success Looks Like
- Consistently high food quality scores across all venues.
- Strong food GP and labour performance.
- Exceptional audit and compliance results.
- Successful menu launches and food innovation programmes.
- Improved guest satisfaction and food-related feedback.
- A strong pipeline of future Head Chefs and Operations Chefs.
- A culinary culture that attracts, develops and retains theindustry’s best talent.
Why Join Parogon?
- Join one of the UK’s most ambitious independent hospitality groups.
- Play a key role in shaping the future direction of the business.
- Lead multiple award-winning concepts and brands.
- Work alongside a high-performing senior leadership team.
- Significant opportunity to influence growth, innovation and futureopenings.
- Develop and leave a lasting legacy through the people, standardsand culture you create.
In Summary
As Executive Chef, you will be responsible for thefood, the people, the standards and the future of the kitchens across theParogon Group. You will be a visible leader, a mentor, a strategist and aguardian of quality, ensuring every guest receives an experience that keepsthem coming back.
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