Pastry Sous Chef

At Ottolenghi, we’re known for vibrant food, busy delis, and restaurants full of energy—but what really matters is our people. We create environments where teams feel supported, take pride in what they do, and deliver a genuinely warm experience to every guest.

Ottolenghi Bicester Village brings our signature flavours and warm hospitality to one of the UK's most celebrated retail destinations. It's a unique and exciting location that welcomes guests from across the country and beyond

What you’ll do

• Support the Head Pastry Chef in the day-to-day running of the pastry kitchen.
• Lead and manage the pastry team in the absence of the Head Pastry Chef, ensuring high-quality preparation and presentation throughout.
• Continuously assess and improve kitchen processes to enhance efficiency and quality.
• Manage food costs, including stock takes, to ensure profitability and budget targets are met.
• Maintain exceptional standards of food hygiene and safety across the pastry section.
• Mentor and develop junior pastry team members, sharing knowledge and building confidence.
• Contribute to menu development, seasonal specials, and new pastry product launches.
• Collaborate with the wider kitchen and front-of-house teams to deliver a seamless guest experience.

What we’re looking for

• Proven experience as a Pastry Sous Chef in a quality kitchen environment, 2+ years
• A genuine passion for cake, pastry, and baked goods, with a strong track record of delivering high-quality food.
• Someone who is generous, kind, and dedicated, and who leads with care for both their team and their craft.
• Confidence to take ownership and lead the section independently when required.
• A collaborative approach and a genuine desire to develop others.

Key skills

• Strong technical pastry skills with a creative eye for flavour and presentation.
• Ability to lead and motivate a team in a calm and supportive manner.
• Confident managing stock, food costs, and production planning.
• High attention to detail and a commitment to consistency.
• Well-organised and able to manage multiple priorities during busy service.
• Comfortable using relevant kitchen systems and tools.
• A genuine passion for pastry, baking, and continuous improvement.

What’s in it for you?

• 28 days annual leave per year, inclusive of bank holidays
• Delicious Ottolenghi staff meals on shift and generous staff discount
• Health and well-being support through our HSF healthcare plan (covering dental, optical, physiotherapy, and more), plus a 24/7 GP helpline and access to Perkbox discounts
• Refer a Friend Bonus: £500 for each successful referral
• Learning & Development opportunities including management coaching, WSET wine training, Ottolenghi Chef’s Academy workshops, and access to external courses
• A warm, inclusive working culture where individuality, growth, and creativity are celebrated
• Enhanced Parental Pay after two years’ service
• A special birthday treat to celebrate your day
• Exclusive workshops and demos, including cooking, food, wine, and cocktail sessions in the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen
• A collaborative and creative environment where your ideas are valued

If you care about great food, great people, and doing things properly, we'd love to hear from you.