Chef

Chartwells Independent; Henlow; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Compass Group UK&I ESS Defence division is seeking an ambitious Chef to lead food service for Defence contracts. The role is full-time, 35 hours per week, with a 5-out-of-7 shift pattern, focused on preparing and serving high-quality meals that delight clients and customers.

You will oversee menu changes, supervise a kitchen team, ensure food safety compliance, and contribute to new menu concepts while maintaining a positive brand image across military and government sites.

Qualifications

• Experience supervising a kitchen team.
• Passion for great-tasting food and exceptional customer service.
• Food safety and hygiene compliance.

Responsibilities

• Preparing delicious, high-quality food that delights clients and customers
• Overseeing and implementing menu changes
• Identifying opportunities to improve our food services
• Listening and acting on customer feedback to improve services
• Supporting the creation of new menus and concepts
• Representing Defence and maintaining a positive brand image
• Monitoring inventories to keep kitchens well-stocked
• Overseeing kitchen cleaning to maintain hygiene standards
• Complying with Food Handling, Hygiene and Safety regulations

Skills

Team supervision

Customer service

Food preparation

Education

City & Guilds 706/1 & 2 or NVQ equivalent

Food Hygiene certificate

Job description

We're currently recruiting an ambitious Chef to help us create exceptional food experiences for Defence on a full time basis contracted to 35 hours per week. As a Chef, you will be responsible for preparing and serving the kind of food that truly brightens our clients' and customers' days, all within the market-leading food service company in the UK. You'll get given every opportunity to progress within a company that invests in its people, celebrates individuality, and rewards and recognises employees who go beyond the plate.

Here's an idea of what your shift patterns will be: 5 out of 7 days

Could you bring your passion and culinary skill to Defence? Here's what you need to know before applying:

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Preparing delicious, high-quality food that delights our clients and customers
• Overseeing and implementing menu changes
• Identifying opportunities to improve our food services
• Listening and acting on customer feedback to consistently improve our food services
• Supporting with the creation of new menus and creative food concepts
• Representing Defence and maintaining a positive brand image
• Monitoring inventories to keep our kitchens well-stocked
• Overseeing kitchen cleaning responsibilities to maintain hygiene standards
• Complying with Food Handling, Hygiene and Health and Satefty regulations

Our ideal Chef will:

• Be passionate about great-tasting food and exceptional customer service
• Hold a City & Guilds 706/1 & 2 or NVQ equivalent
• Have experience supervising a team
• Have experience in a similar Chef role
• Hold a Food Hygiene certificate
• Have a flexible approach to working

Part of Compass Group UK&I, ESS is the Defence, Government, and Energy services sector of Compass Group UK & Ireland. We support 250+ UK military establishments, high profile police, secure environments and government sites, along with a range of onshore and offshore facilities including platforms, drilling rigs, floatels and offices for the energy sector. We know that a friendly face makes all the difference, so we look for people who are passionate about delivering excellent customer service, at all levels, to join our teams.

Job Reference: com/1808/95215001/52425980/BU #Defence

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!