How to progress from Kitchen Assistant to Kitchen Manager at Greene King

Looking to build a career that serves up satisfaction every day? At Greene King, we believe in growing our people as well our plates. If you're wondering how kitchen career progression works here, specifically going from kitchen assistant to kitchen manager, you're in the right place.

At Greene King, where great food meets great opportunities, we love to see our employees climb the ladder and explore new opportunities in the business.

So, whether you're already chopping and prepping, or just to starting to consider a kitchen role, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about kitchen assistant career progression and how to become a kitchen manager at Greene King.

Kitchen jobs at Greene King

Joining one our pub kitchen is the beginning of an exciting journey. Our kitchens are exciting, fast-paced, and supportive spaces where your growth matters. No matter where you begin, there's always room to develop and thrive.

Here are the three key kitchen jobs we offer and a brief description of what you can expect in each role:

Kitchen Assistant - you’ll work your magic behind the scenes, prepping fresh ingredients and keeping the kitchen spick and span.
Chef - you’ll cook and assemble dishes that taste great, look insta-worthy, and always turn up on time.
Kitchen Manager - you’ll inspire our teams as they make and serve food that delights our customers.

Skills needed in each kitchen job

Our kitchen career progression is designed to build on the strengths you already have, and give you new skills to succeed at every stage.

Kitchen Assistant skills - you’ll be an organisational wizard, juggling tasks efficiently, and making sure the kitchen is clean and safe. Attention to detail, a knack for multitasking, and a can-do attitude are your key ingredients for success in this role.
Chef skills - crafting dishes that not only taste great but are also insta-worthy requires culinary prowess. Being reliable and delivering consistently top-notch dishes are the flavours that set you apart in the kitchen.
Kitchen Manager skills - leadership skills take centre stage as you guide and motivate your team to create and serve food that goes beyond satisfying hunger – it delights our customers. Communication, teamwork, and a deep understanding of the culinary world are your tools for success in this role. It's about creating a culture where the joy of cooking translates into memorable experiences for our customers.

Kitchen assistant career progression

At Greene King, we're all about helping you climb that kitchen ladder and spice up your career. So, whether you're just starting or you're a seasoned pro, let's turn up the heat together!

Take the Apprenticeship route

We offer a Chef Apprenticeship, where you can expect:

A mixture of face-to-face and virtual catch-ups with your learning coach every 4 to 6 weeks
A mixture of on and off-the-job training, including workshops and webinars
Feedback sessions to discuss progress
Obtain Functional Skills in English and Maths (if you don’t already have GCSE)

You will be working towards a Production Chef Level 2 Qualification over 15 months.

Work your way up the ranks

One of our values is having the freedom to succeed. What does this mean? It means you’ll be trusted to unleash your potential by thinking differently and doing the right thing. And we will be right there supporting you every step of the way.

We understand that each person brings a unique flavour to our team, and we're committed to supporting your growth and progression.

Your success is our success, and at Greene King, we're all about creating an environment where you can not only enjoy your work but also thrive and grow.

Why become a kitchen manager at Greene King?

A kitchen manager job with us is a career packed with opportunity. You'll enjoy a competitive salary, fantastic benefits, and loads of room to grow even further. Manny kitchen managers progress to become general managers while some even take advantage of our internal mobility opportunities.

You'll get to:

Lead and inspire your kitchen team
Play a key role in the overall success of the pub
Shape menus, manage costs, and drive standards
Grow your leadership skills while making a real impact

Unlock a kitchen career with Greene King

Now, that you’ve got a recipe for success, you too can begin your journey from Kitchen Assistant to Kitchen Manager at Greene King.

Whether you're already donning the apron or just eyeing that Chef's hat, the path is flavourful, and the opportunities are sizzling.

So, take that first step, whip up your skills, maybe dive into an Apprenticeship, and watch yourself climb that Greene King kitchen ladder.

Your Greene King adventure awaits – get cooking with our Kitchen jobs today!

List #1

related jobs

Kitchen Assistant

Salary

Upto £13.25

Location

Compleat Angler (Norwich)

Business Area

BOH Teammate - 500104

Brand

Urban - BRA_209

Hours

Part time

Team Member Sub-Type

Permanent

Team Member Type

Employee

Description

As a Kitchen Assistant, you’ll play a key part in the kitchen ensuring a busy service runs smoothly. You’ll make sure everything is well stocked, clean, and the team around you have everything they ne

Reference

9be72a93-af08-4e48-bd36-5c662edd488e

Expiry Date

01/01/0001

Apply now Saved

Cleaner

Salary

Upto £13.25

Location

Peacock (Clifton)

Business Area

Cleaner (Operations) - 500800

Brand

Proper Locals - BRA_206

Hours

Part time

Team Member Sub-Type

Permanent

Team Member Type

Employee

Description

As a Cleaner, you’ll make sure everything in the pub is clean, tidy, and ready for us to welcome our customers. You’ll be joining a fun and inclusive team, where you can grow and strengthen your skill

Reference

2d94a1b9-9a28-40f6-a214-a87651094861

Expiry Date

01/01/0001

Apply now Saved

Head Chef

Salary

£40,000 - £45,000 + Bonus + Service Charge

Location

Angel Oak (Peckham)

Business Area

Head Chef - 500268

Brand

Metro Pub Co - BRA_302

Hours

Full time

Team Member Sub-Type

Permanent

Team Member Type

Employee

Description

This is not your average pub kitchen.The Angel Oak sits on the corner of Peckham Rye Park and is a destination for food lovers across Peckham and East Dulwich. With a beautiful pub setting, a huge yea

Reference

d2070845-e82e-47da-ace6-868b7cdf8622

Expiry Date

01/01/0001

Apply now Saved

Assistant Manager

Salary

£31,000 - £37,250 + Bonus

Location

Round Table (Covent Garden)

Business Area

Assistant Manager - 500037

Brand

Urban - BRA_209

Hours

Full time

Team Member Sub-Type

Permanent

Team Member Type

Employee

Description

As Assistant Manager, you’ll be at the heart of our management team, helping to ensure the smooth running of a busy pub. From the moment you step through the door, you lead by example making sure our

Reference

64480aa7-fa42-4b07-b521-a071458fe8b9

Expiry Date

01/01/0001

Apply now Saved

Kitchen Assistant

Salary

Upto £13.75

Location

Festival (Edinburgh)

Business Area

BOH Teammate - 500104

Brand

Urban - BRA_209

Hours

Part time

Team Member Sub-Type

Permanent

Team Member Type

Employee

Description

Reference

78034e08-8fc9-4ed4-9acd-db6d0de1d075

Expiry Date

01/01/0001

Apply now Saved

Kitchen Team Leader

Salary

Upto £13.50

Location

Berkshire Arms (Midgham)

Business Area

BOH Team Leader - 500047

Brand

Chef & Brewer - BRA_101

Hours

Part time

Team Member Sub-Type

Permanent

Team Member Type

Employee

Description

As a Kitchen Team Leader, you’ll lead by example making sure the team have everything they need so service runs like clockwork! You’ll support your team by encouraging and helping them to work well to

Reference

10130ba9-0c00-4b2d-acf4-e17b1aba768a

Expiry Date

01/01/0001

Apply now Saved

Kitchen Assistant

Salary

Upto £13.75

Location

Dyce Farm (Aberdeen)

Business Area

BOH Teammate - 500104

Brand

Farmhouse Inns - BRA_102

Hours

Full time

Team Member Sub-Type

Permanent

Team Member Type

Employee

Description

Reference

af23a056-5312-4716-9e3e-d86c7f7a1dc3

Expiry Date

01/01/0001

Apply now Saved

Team Leader

Salary

Upto £13.00

Location

Chiltern Hundreds (Maidstone)

Business Area

FOH Team Leader - 500026

Brand

Chef & Brewer - BRA_101

Hours

Part time

Team Member Sub-Type

Permanent

Team Member Type

Employee

Description

As a Team Leader, you’ll lead by example, making sure the team have everything they need so the shift runs like clockwork! You’ll make sure the team maintain high standards and that our customers are

Reference

20b088b9-79e8-4ab2-ae9f-7b46a3197998

Expiry Date

01/01/0001

Apply now Saved

View all

List #1

pub team leader/management at greene king

What do pub team leaders do?

Teaser

Management

Content Type

Blogs

Publish date

08/03/2026

Summary

There’s a certain buzz to a busy pub shift. Orders are coming in, customers are catching up over food and drinks, and the team is working together to keep everything moving. As a Pub Team Leader, you’

Teaser

Learn the roles and responsibilities of a Pub Team Leader, who you’ll work with, top skills of Team Leader, and differences between a Manager and Team Leader.

Carol Watson

Career advice

5 top hospitality interview tips to make an impression

Teaser

Head Office

Content Type

Blogs

Publish date

08/01/2026

Summary

You’ve applied for the job, your interview is in the diary and now it’s time to get ready. Feeling a few nerves? Completely normal. An interview means meeting new people and talking about yourself, wh

Teaser

Are you feeling anxious about an upcoming job interview? Don't worry, you're not alone. Interviews can be nerve-wracking, but with the right preparation and mindset, you can ace it!

Sally Poulton

Career advice

HR staff at Greene King sitting at their desk

5 tips to kickstart your HR career with Greene King

Teaser

Head Office

Content Type

Blogs

Publish date

07/29/2026

Summary

People are at the heart of hospitality. They are the friendly face at the bar, the calm head in a busy kitchen and the team behind the scenes keeping everything moving. Our HR team helps those people

Teaser

Discover the exciting world of HR at Greene King and how to kickstart your career.

Charlotte Insley (She/Her)

Career advice

How to find flexible pub jobs that work around you

Teaser

Bar and Waiting

Content Type

Blogs

Publish date

07/03/2026

Summary

Finding work that fits around real life can feel like juggling all the demands of busy weekend shift. That’s why flexible pub jobs can be such a good fit if you’re balancing study, childcare, another

Teaser

From serving award-winning beers behind the bar to helping a busy kitchen run smoothly, our teams pull together every day to pour happiness into lives. And because we believe everyone deserves a job that makes them happy, we offer jobs that work around you.

Kat Ross

A summer side hustle for school staff: the transferable skills teachers bring to pub jobs

Teaser

Bar and Waiting

Content Type

Blogs

Publish date

07/03/2026

Summary

The school summer holidays can be a funny old time for teachers. As the days open up, you may be tempted to earn a bit extra, meet new people and do something that feels completely different. 18% of

Teaser

Whether you’re looking at summer jobs at Greene King, or flexible bar work, there are plenty of ways to pour happiness into lives during the school break.

Kat Ross

What is a Head Chef job: responsibilities and skills

Teaser

Kitchen

Content Type

Blogs

Publish date

06/30/2026

Summary

Every brilliant plate of pub food has a busy kitchen behind it. And behind that kitchen? Usually a Head Chef making sure the team has what it needs, every dish meets the mark and service keeps moving

Teaser

Learn more about our Head Chef positions, the responsibilities of a Head Chef, and the skills and qualifications needed to be a Head Chef.

Varsha Odedra

Career advice

Life as a Finance Apprentice: Tom Hawkins

Teaser

A day in the life

Content Type

Blogs

Publish date

06/22/2026

Summary

Meet Tom Hawkins, a Finance Centre of Excellence (FCoE) Apprentice who is kickstarting his career in finance through an apprenticeship. We spoke to Tom about his journey so far, what a typical day lo

Teaser

Meet Tom Hawkins, a Finance Centre of Excellence (FCoE) Apprentice who is kickstarting his career in finance through an apprenticeship. We spoke to Tom about his journey so far, what a typical day looks like, and why he'd recommend the apprenticeship route to others.

Lauren Callear

Working in IT at Greene King: Exploring our hospitality technology jobs

Teaser

Head Office

Content Type

Blogs

Publish date

06/15/2026

Summary

When you think of our pubs your mind probably jumps to award-winning beers and hearty Sunday roasts. These experiences are powered by cutting-edge technology, from systems that keep tills ticking to

Teaser

Whether you’re exploring digital, data, systems, cyber, or support roles, you’ll join a team where people look out for each other, celebrate progress and make a genuine difference across the UK. Explore our latest tech jobs today.

Rachel Jones

What makes a great kitchen team leader?

Teaser

Kitchen

Content Type

Blogs

Publish date

05/29/2026

Summary

At Greene King, our kitchen team leaders are the ones keeping the team moving when things heat up. With a rich heritage of over 200 years, we know a thing or two about bringing people together. From

Teaser

From pub classics to family favourites, our kitchen teams help pour happiness into lives one plate at a time. Fancy being part of it? Here’s what makes a great kitchen team leader.

Kat Ross

Why career changers should consider a chef apprenticeship

Teaser

Apprenticeships

Content Type

Blogs

Publish date

05/29/2026

Summary

Changing career can feel like a big step, especially if you’re moving into something completely different. You might be wondering whether you’re too late to start, whether you need experience, or whe

Teaser

At Greene King, you can earn while you learn, build practical skills in a real kitchen and work towards a recognised qualification with support around you. If you’re looking for chef jobs for career changers, this could be the shift you need.

Lucy Richardson

View all

Lead a fresh, seasonal kitchen in Kent

Lead a fresh, seasonal kitchen in Kent

Lead a fresh, seasonal kitchen in Kent

Lead a fresh, seasonal kitchen in Kent

How to progress from Kitchen Assistant to Kitchen Manager at Greene King

Kitchen jobs at Greene King

Skills needed in each kitchen job

Kitchen assistant career progression

Take the Apprenticeship route

Work your way up the ranks

Why become a kitchen manager at Greene King?

Unlock a kitchen career with Greene King

Tags

Lead a fresh, seasonal kitchen in Kent

Lead a fresh, seasonal kitchen in Kent

Lead a fresh, seasonal kitchen in Kent

Lead a fresh, seasonal kitchen in Kent

How to progress from Kitchen Assistant to Kitchen Manager at Greene King

Kitchen jobs at Greene King

Skills needed in each kitchen job

Kitchen assistant career progression

Take the Apprenticeship route

Work your way up the ranks

Why become a kitchen manager at Greene King?

Unlock a kitchen career with Greene King

Tags

FIND A JOB