Chef (Nights)

OCS; Oxford; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounts via Hapi app

Wagestream early pay

Award-winning employer

Job summary

OCS UK & Ireland is seeking a dedicated Chef to join the Catering team. You will deliver exceptional food and drink offerings to clients and site visitors, preparing and cooking high-quality seasonal dishes.

The role requires a strong focus on health and safety, customer service, and working both autonomously and as part of a team. Prior contract catering experience is ideal but not essential; training for food handling certification is available.

Qualifications

• Must have right to work in the UK.
• Strives for the highest standards.
• Autonomous yet a team player.
• Food handling certificate preferred (training available).
• Background in contract catering advantageous but not required.
• City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or Level 2 Diploma in Professional Cookery preferred.
• Excellent knowledge of health and safety and food safety.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Passion for food and high-quality service.

Responsibilities

• Ensure food quality and taste at highest standard.
• Manage inventory and ordering of raw materials.
• Control budgets and minimise wastage.
• Maintain health and hygiene in the kitchen.
• Prepare and cook for clients and customers.
• Support site in absence of Senior Chef.

Skills

Food safety knowledge

Communication

Customer service

Autonomy

Health and safety

Education

City & Guilds 706/1

City & Guilds 706/2

Level 2 Diploma in Professional Cookery

Job description

About The Role

We are currently recruiting for a dedicated and driven Chef to join our Catering team.

The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering our outstanding food and drink offering to our clients and site visitors.

Your key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Ensuring food quality and taste are of the highest standard.
• Managing inventory of stock and ordering raw materials.
• Controlling budgets and minimising wastage.
• Maintaining health and hygiene in the kitchen.
• Prepare and cook for clients and customers.
• Supporting the site in the absence of the Senior Chef

The ideal candidate should meet the following criteria:

• Applicants must have the right to work in the UK
• Someone who is willing to attain the highest standards possible.
• We are looking for an employee that is autonomous in their approach but also happy to work well in a team.
• Ideally, you will have your food handling certificate – but don’t worry if you don’t, we can help you achieve this!
• A background in contract catering would be ideal but not essential.
• Ideally City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or level 2 diploma in Professional Cookery (or equivalent), but we are happy to talk to those also qualifying for their professional qualifications.
• Excellent knowledge of health and safety and food safety.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills as you will be interacting with the customer base and onsite clients.
• A real passion for food and service, with the ability to prepare and cook good quality seasonal food.

About The Company

OCS UK & Ireland is a leading facilities management company with 50,000+ colleagues and a turnover in excess of £2bn. We deliver innovative, award-winning services within facilities management, hard services, cleaning, security and catering.

Our mission is to make people and places the best they can be for our colleagues, customers and the communities we serve. Our commitment to doing business the right way is rooted in our TRUE values - Trust, Respect, Unity, and Empowerment.

Why Work for OCS?

Award-Winning Employer: Ranked 36th on Glassdoor’s Best Companies to Work For 2025 — we value and motivate our people.

Digital Learning: The OCS Academy offers digital courses and resources to help you build skills and grow your career.

Retail Perks With our Hapi app, you can gain access to exclusive discounts, rewards and wellbeing resources.

Professional Growth: 600+ live learners simply living over UK&I — Empowering colleagues with Further development and qualifications!

Flexible Pay: Access a portion of earned wages before payday with our Wagestream App! (Contract Specific)

We are an equal opportunities employer and rely on a diverse workforce with a broad range of knowledge, skills, and backgrounds to deliver our goals. We offer an inclusive and welcoming environment and actively encourage applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or age.