Senior Sous Chef (M/F)

Company Description

Opening in late 2026, Delano London brings the spirit and celebrated heritage of the iconic Delano Miami Beach to London, reimagined for a new generation. Set overlooking Kensington Gardens, the hotel will feature 67 rooms and suites, Lana Lusa, the legendary Rose Bar and Rose Lounge, alongside The Source wellness offering.

Delano is a place where personality, creativity and genuine connection come together. We value curiosity, individuality and a sense of fun, creating an environment where our people can be themselves while delivering thoughtful, intuitive and genuinely warm hospitality.

Delano London is part of Ennismore, a global collective of entrepreneurial, founder-built brands rooted in creativity, culture and community, and a joint venture with Accor.

Joining Delano London means being part of something from the very beginning. It is an opportunity to help shape the next chapter of an iconic brand, work alongside an ambitious and creative team and play a part in creating a hotel that feels distinctly Delano from day one.

Job Description

We are seeking an exceptional Senior Sous Chef to join the pre-opening team of Delano London. Reporting to the Executive Head Chef, you’ll play a key leadership role within the culinary operation, supporting the opening and day-to-day running of our restaurants, bars, room service and events. You’ll help build and inspire the kitchen team, establish exceptional culinary standards and bring creativity, consistency and strong operational discipline to the kitchen.

Set to open its doors in late this year, Delano London will fuse historic charm with contemporary luxury, reflecting a reimagined experience that pays homage to the original visionary concept. The 67-key luxury retreat will blend soft minimalist design, generous living spaces and park views, creating a distinctive lifestyle destination where design, dining, nightlife and wellbeing seamlessly converge.

What you’ll do…

• Support the Executive Head Chef in leading the day-to-day culinary operation across breakfast, mediterranean concept for lunch and dinner, ensuring consistently high standards of food quality, presentation and execution.
• Act as a senior leader within the kitchen brigade, maintaining a visible presence across the operation and stepping up in the Executive Head Chef’s absence.
• Support the opening of the culinary operation, helping to establish kitchen culture, standards, systems and ways of working from day one.
• Work closely with the Executive Head Chef on menu development, recipes, presentation, seasonality and culinary direction across all outlets.
• Lead and develop the kitchen team by setting clear expectations, coaching in the moment and creating an environment where people can perform at their best.
• Recruit, onboard and train the opening kitchen team, embedding strong culinary standards, product knowledge, food safety and professional discipline.
• Establish and maintain SOPs, recipes, preparation standards, kitchen procedures and quality controls.
• Ensure every dish leaving the kitchen reflects the Delano identity, with particular attention to flavour, consistency, presentation and timing.
• Work closely with Front of House to ensure seamless communication between the kitchen and service teams, particularly around pacing, menus, special requests and guest experience.
• Oversee mise en place, preparation, service and close-down procedures, ensuring the kitchen operates efficiently and safely.
• Support the Executive Head Chef with food cost control, GP performance, purchasing, stock management, wastage and portion control.
• Monitor stock levels and work closely with suppliers and purchasing teams to ensure quality, availability and value.
• Support menu costing and recipe management, ensuring dishes are commercially viable and accurately costed.
• Manage kitchen rotas and deployment effectively, balancing business levels, productivity, labour cost and service requirements.
• Take responsibility for kitchen standards during assigned services, maintaining calm, organised and effective leadership during busy periods.
• Support VIP dining, private events, hotel activations, private dining and special occasions, ensuring an exceptional culinary experience.
• Collaborate with the Executive Head Chef on tastings, trials, menu launches and culinary projects.
• Maintain excellent standards of food safety, HACCP, Health & Safety, allergens, hygiene and legal compliance.
• Identify opportunities to improve kitchen systems, efficiency, quality and team performance.
• Support training and development plans, helping to build a strong internal pipeline of future culinary leaders.
• Maintain close communication with the Executive Head Chef and wider Food & Beverage leadership team, ensuring the culinary operation remains aligned with the hotel’s overall vision.
• Step across different outlets and culinary areas when required, bringing a collaborative, one-team approach to the wider hotel operation.

Qualifications

What we’re looking for…

• You have strong experience as a Senior Sous Chef, Sous Chef or equivalent senior culinary position, ideally within a luxury hotel, premium restaurant or high-quality lifestyle operation.
• Previous pre-opening experience would be a real plus – you enjoy building something from the ground up and understand what it takes to establish a successful kitchen operation.
• You are a confident culinary leader with excellent knowledge of modern cooking techniques, high-quality ingredients, menu development and kitchen operations.
• You have a strong understanding of food cost, GP, labour, purchasing, stock control, wastage and kitchen productivity.
• You are passionate about developing people and lead by example, creating a kitchen culture built around professionalism, respect, creativity and high standards.
• You have excellent organisational skills and remain calm, focused and solutions-oriented when operating under pressure.
• You have strong attention to detail and understand that consistency is essential to a luxury guest experience.
• You are comfortable working with kitchen systems including recipe management, costing, inventory, purchasing, HACCP and rota platforms.
• You have a strong understanding of food safety, allergens, HACCP and Health & Safety requirements.
• You are an excellent communicator and relationship builder, confident working with Front of House, F&B leadership, suppliers and senior hotel management.
• You are creative and commercially minded, able to balance culinary ambition with operational and financial realities.
• You are culturally aware and globally minded, with an understanding of London’s evolving culinary scene and the expectations of a luxury international hotel.
• You are flexible and prepared to work evenings, weekends and key hospitality moments when required.

What’s in it for you…

• The opportunity to launch Delano London and help shape its culinary identity from day one.
• The opportunity to work closely with the Executive Head Chef and play a significant role in establishing the hotel’s kitchen culture, standards and food proposition.
• Join an innovative, fast-growing, international group committed to building a global brand.
• The chance to contribute creatively to menus and culinary experiences across the hotel.
• The opportunity to develop and lead a high-performing culinary team within a luxury pre-opening environment.
• The chance to be part of a hotel bringing together design, dining, nightlife and culture in a distinctly Delano way.
• A competitive package and plenty of opportunity for development as the hotel and wider brand continue to grow.

Additional Information

Why Delano London?

Be part of the team bringing an iconic brand into its next chapter. At Delano London, personality counts, ideas are welcomed and everyone plays a part in creating something memorable. We work hard, make it fun and look out for one another, with opportunities to learn, grow and build meaningful relationships across Delano, Ennismore and Accor.

Alongside a supportive and creative team culture, you’ll have access to a range of colleague benefits, hotel stays and experiences across the wider group, and the opportunity to work within a global community of distinctive lifestyle and hospitality brands.