Head Chef

Compass Group; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A major catering company in Central London is seeking an experienced Head Chef to manage kitchen operations, ensuring outstanding service and food quality. The successful candidate will oversee food preparation, develop menus based on client expectations, and manage a team of three. They should have relevant catering qualifications and strong leadership skills, with a passion for fresh meals. A comprehensive benefits package is included for hard work and dedication.

Benefits

Contributory pension scheme

Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes

Digital GP access

Exclusive travel discounts

Food shop discounts

Cinema ticket discounts

Cash rewards for spending

Free wellness and exercise classes

Qualifications

• Experience as a Head Chef, Chef Manager, or similar.
• Strong leadership, organisation, and communication skills.
• A hands-on approach with a calm attitude under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and oversee all preparation of food.
• Develop and plan menus aligned with client expectations.
• Manage a team of 3 kitchen members effectively.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organisation

Culinary skills

Calm under pressure

Education

Relevant catering qualifications (e.g. NVQ, City & Guilds)

Job description

Head Chef - Central London

Salary: £39,400 per annum / 37.5 hours per week

We currently have a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Head Chef to join our ESS team in Central London. You will be providing outstanding service to the staff at the resort whilst guiding and motivating your team to be the best they can possibly be.

Services provided are breakfast, lunch, hospitality, coffee shop and retail.

Key Responsibilities include but not limited to:

• To prepare and oversee all preparation of food to the highest standard
• To produce food in a timely fashion to ensure smooth service to the customers
• To ensure that all appropriate ingredients are available for the menus
• To develop and plan menus that are in line with client and customer expectations
• Pride yourself on food quality and hygiene standard
• Overall responsibility for managing the kitchen team - 3 team members
• Provide feedback and coaching on performance
• To ensure that the kitchen team have completed up to date COSSH and Food Hygiene training

About You

You’re an experienced chef who enjoys leading a team and taking responsibility for a kitchen. You’ll take pride in great food, smooth operations, and creating a welcoming environment.

You will have:

• Experience as a Head Chef, Chef Manager, or similar
• Relevant catering qualifications (e.g. NVQ, City & Guilds – desirable)
• Strong leadership, organisation, and communication skills
• A hands‑on approach and calm attitude under pressure
• Passion for delivering fresh, seasonal meals
• Flexibility for occasional weekend support

Benefits

We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
• Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
• Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
• Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
• Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
• You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families

About Us

As part of Compass you'll help to feed people, fuel progress and forge connections in around 6,000 venues. Join us to grow your career with the industry leader, and get competitive pay, great perks and unrivalled opportunities for learning and development, at one of the UK's biggest businesses.

Job Reference: com/0502/40836001/52788875/SU #Energy

Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!