Chef de Partie / Development Chef

Salary

£13.00 - £15.00 per hour (depending on experience) + Profit Share Scheme

Hours

• 30-35 hours per week initially
• Wednesday to Sunday
• Daytime shifts typically between 10:00am - 4:00pm
• Additional evening shifts from September as the new dining concept launches (approximately 6:00pm - 11:00pm, 2-3 evenings per week)

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About Shokupan

Shokupan is a community-focused Japanese bakery and café in Liverpool, built around quality, creativity, and craftsmanship.

Alongside our successful daytime operation, we're launching a brand-new evening dining concept inspired by East and Southeast Asian flavours, including Japanese, Malaysian, Cantonese, Sichuan and Filipino influences.

We're looking for a chef who wants to be involved in building something from the ground up. This is not a role where you'll simply follow recipes and systems. We want someone who enjoys collaborating, experimenting, sharing ideas and helping shape the future of the food offering.

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The Role

Working closely with the owner, you'll play a key role in developing and delivering our new evening menu while supporting the daytime food operation.

You'll have the opportunity to contribute ideas, design dishes, test recipes and influence the direction of the concept as it evolves.

The successful candidate will have genuine creative input and autonomy within the kitchen.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with the development and launch of the new evening menu
• Prepare and deliver high-quality dishes during service
• Contribute ideas for menu development and seasonal specials
• Test, refine and improve recipes
• Support food preparation for daytime and evening operations
• Maintain excellent food hygiene and kitchen standards
• Work collaboratively with the owner and wider team
• Help create a positive, welcoming and community-focused environment

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What We're Looking For

Essential

• Previous professional kitchen experience
• Passion for food and menu development
• Interest in East Asian Cuisine
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and manage your own section
• Excellent communication skills
• A proactive and solutions-focused attitude

Desirable

• Experience working with Asian cuisine or ingredients
• Experience in small independent restaurants, cafés or creative food concepts
• Menu development experience

Please note: You do not need an East Asian culinary background. A genuine interest in learning, exploring flavours and developing new dishes is far more important than previous experience within a specific cuisine.

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The Ideal Person

You'll thrive in this role if you are:

• Humble and collaborative
• Comfortable sharing opinions and ideas
• Open to learning and experimentation
• Self-motivated and able to work without constant direction
• Passionate about creating quality food rather than simply maximising covers

This role would not suit someone who prefers to be heavily managed or who is uncomfortable working in a creative, evolving environment.

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What Success Looks Like

Over the next 12 months, you'll help launch and establish an exciting new evening concept with rotating menus, workshops and events.

As the business grows, there is genuine opportunity to progress into a senior kitchen leadership role, assist with future sites, develop new concepts and help shape the long-term direction of the company.

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Why Join Shokupan?

• £13-£15 per hour depending on experience
• 10% employee profit-share scheme (following probation)
• Significant creative input and menu ownership
• Opportunity to help build a new restaurant concept from scratch
• Small, supportive team environment
• Genuine progression opportunities as the business grows
• Financially secure, independent business
• Community-focused culture prioritising quality over volume