Chef

Sodexo; Guildford; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mental health resources

Employee assistance program

Free health app access

Discounts for family

Salary finance tools

Retirement and life insurance

Full training and uniforms

Cycle to Work program

Flexible working

Job summary

Sodexo at Nuffield Health Guildford Hospital is hiring a Cook/Chef to manage a section of the kitchen, preparing high-quality meals for patients and staff. You will work to menus and production schedules, ensuring quality and presentation while leading a team in a fast-paced healthcare kitchen.

You will be responsible for maintaining food safety, hygiene, allergen controls and timely production within budgeted guidelines, contributing to an excellent patient and staff dining experience.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Chef or senior kitchen role in high-volume environments.
• Experience cooking with fresh ingredients and following menus/production methods.
• Ability to lead and develop a kitchen team and deputise for management when needed.
• Knowledge of food safety, hygiene and allergen controls; HACCP/COSHH awareness.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and cook high-quality meals for patients, staff and hospitality services.
• Follow menus, portion sizes and dietary specifications with accuracy.
• Lead kitchen team and support management to maintain high standards.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, hygiene and allergen policies.

Skills

Fresh ingredients

Menu planning

Team leadership

Food safety

Attention to detail

Allergen controls

Job description

The following content displays a map of the jobs location - Guildford

Nuffield Health Guildford Hospital, GU2 7RF

Healthy outcomes start with positive patient experiences.

• 5 days out of 7 | 5x 7.5 h shifts between hours of 7 am and 8 pm

Please take the time to read the attached job description

Job Introduction

Bring your passion to the plate. Make a difference every day.

As a Chef at Sodexo in Nuffield Health Guildford Hospital, you'll play a vital role in preparing high-quality meals that support patient wellbeing and enhance the overall dining experience. You'll be responsible for managing your own section of the kitchen, ensuring every dish meets our high standards. If you're passionate about food, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and want to be part of a purpose-driven team - this is the role for you. Join Sodexo and be part of something greater. You belong in a team where you can act with purpose and thrive in your way.

What you'll do:

• Prepare and cook fresh, high-quality meals from fresh ingredients for patients, staff and hospitality services, following agreed menus, recipes, production methods and specifications to ensure consistency, quality and excellent presentation.
• Follow daily and seasonal menus accurately, ensuring meals meet required portion sizes, nutritional standards, dietary requirements and presentation specifications.
• Prepare a varied range of dishes and special diets, including allergen, texture-modified and nutritional requirements, ensuring recipes and ingredient controls are followed precisely.
• Lead and support the kitchen team to deliver consistently high standards of food and service, including deputising for management when required.
• Ensure all food preparation, cooking, storage and service complies with food safety, hygiene, HACCP, COSHH, allergen management and private hospital standards.
• Manage production schedules, stock, ordering, portion control and food wastage effectively, ensuring meals are prepared on time and fresh ingredients are used efficiently within agreed budgets.
• Complete required kitchen checks and documentation, supporting audits while working closely with hospitality and wider teams to deliver an excellent patient, visitor and staff experience

What you bring:

• Proven experience as a Chef, ideally at Sous Chef, Chef de Partie or shift-lead level, within a high-volume catering, healthcare, hospitality or similar professional kitchen environment.
• Strong culinary skills and demonstrable experience of cooking from fresh ingredients, with a passion for quality, consistency and well-presented food.
• Experience working accurately to menus, recipes, specifications and production schedules, with excellent attention to detail and the ability to consistently reproduce dishes to the required standard.
• Experience preparing food for special diets, allergies, nutritional and texture-modified requirements, with a strong understanding of allergen controls.
• Experience leading, supporting and developing a kitchen team, with the ability to organise workloads, motivate others and lead by example.
• Good knowledge of food safety, hygiene, allergens, special diets and food labelling, with an Intermediate Food Hygiene qualification; Level 3 is desirable.
• Strong organisational and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively under pressure and demonstrate a positive, flexible and professional approach to patient care, hospitality, teamwork and continuous improvement.

What we offer:

Working at Sodexo isn't just a job - it's a chance to make a difference every day. You'll be part of a supportive team, act with purpose, and thrive in a role where your work matters. We also offer a range of benefits to support you and your loved ones:

• Mental health and wellbeing resources
• Employee Assistance Programme (including financial/legal advice & personal support)
• Free health & wellbeing app with 24/7 virtual GP access
• Discounts on high street brands for you and your family
• Salary finance tools and financial wellbeing resources
• Retirement savings plan and life insurance
• Full training and protective uniform provided.
• Opportunities to gain experience through learning and development.
• Cycle to Work scheme & volunteering opportunities.
• Flexible working and a dynamic team environment
• Competitive pay

We may close this advert early if we receive a high number of applications - so don't wait!

About Sodexo

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better every day for everyone to build a better life for all. As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100 million consumers each day through our unique combination of On-Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services.

We are committed tobeingan inclusive employer. We are a forces friendly employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds, and identities. We encourage our employees to get involved with our Employee Networks such as Pride, Sodexo Parents & Carers, Sodexo Disability, Ability network, So Together, Generations and Origins.

We're a Disability Confident Leader employer. We're committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations. We run a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.

Click here to read more about what we do to promote an inclusive culture.

Sodexo Disability, Ability network, So Together, Generations and Origins.