Chocolatier Sous Chef

Salary: £42,000–£55,000 per annum, depending on experience

Performance Bonus: Up to 10% of annual salary

Hours: Full-time, 48 hours per week, predominantly day shifts

Start Date: To be agreed

Please check your commute to Brentford before applying.

Makers is a growing premium chocolate and pastry business with our flagship shop in Chelsea and our production kitchen based in Brentford, West London.

We create chocolates, pastry, ice cream, drinks and seasonal collections, combining strong technical craftsmanship with a different approach to traditional chocolate and pastry production.

The business is now entering an important stage of growth. Our first shop is established and trading, and new projects, including additional retail locations, are already in development and planning
.

We are continuing to expand our product range, improve our production methods and systems, and prepare the operation for the next stage of the business.

We are looking for people who want to be part of that journey: people with energy, ambition and a genuine desire to help build something.

We are looking for an experienced Sous Chef with a strong background in chocolate production to join our production team in Brentford.

You will be joining the Executive Chef and another experienced Sous Chef
, working together to lead and develop the production kitchen as Makers continues to grow.

This is a hands‑on role combining chocolate production, pastry, product development, manufacturing processes, team management and operational organisation
.

You will work closely with the Executive Chef and senior kitchen team across the day‑to‑day production of our existing ranges while also supporting R&D, seasonal collections, bespoke projects and the development of products and systems for future Makers locations and projects.

We are looking for somebody who is technically strong but also practical, energetic and adaptable.

Makers is a growing business, so the role requires someone who is comfortable with change, able to solve problems and willing to take responsibility.

You should enjoy making things happen.

• Lead and support the daily production of our chocolate, pastry and other product ranges.
• Work alongside the Executive Chef and Sous Chef to organise and develop the production operation.
• Produce consistently to a high technical and visual standard.
• Have a strong understanding of chocolate production and manufacturing processes
  , including tempering, moulding, enrobing, fillings, ganaches, caramels, pralinés and related production techniques.
• Work closely with the Executive Chef on R&D and new product development across chocolate, pastry, ice cream, drinks and seasonal collections.
• Support the development of products and production systems for new shops and future company projects
  .
• Help move products successfully from development into repeatable and efficient production.
• Organise production schedules, priorities and mise en place to ensure deadlines and quantities are achieved.
• Support the development and improvement of production processes, recipes, specifications and SOPs
  .
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, consistency, quality and workflow.
• Supervise, train and develop junior members of the kitchen team.
• Lead by example with a hands‑on approach to production.
• Monitor stock levels, ingredient usage, wastage and production requirements.
• Support ordering, receiving, stock rotation and inventory management.
• Assist with food costing, yield management and waste reduction.
• Maintain excellent food hygiene, HACCP, allergen and health & safety standards.
• Support seasonal launches, bespoke projects, client requirements and periods of increased production.
• Work collaboratively with the wider operations, retail and management teams.

• Strong professional experience in chocolate production
  .
• Previous experience at Sous Chef level, senior chocolatier level, or in a comparable production leadership position.
• Previous experience within a recognised luxury, premium or high‑end brand
  , ideally within chocolate, pastry, hospitality or premium food production.
• Excellent technical understanding of chocolate and…