Creative Head Chef — Lead a High-Impact Kitchen

The Venues Collection; Northampton; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

23 days’ holiday + bank holidays

Healthcare and wellbeing support

Pension scheme

Meals on duty

Job summary

Sedgebrook Hall in Northampton seeks a dynamic Head Chef to lead a busy kitchen, shape menus, and elevate guest experiences. You’ll run the kitchen with creativity, a hands-on approach and a clear eye for quality, consistency and food safety.

As part of The Venues Collection, you’ll work closely with the General Manager and leadership team, manage costs, mentor staff and champion sustainable, modern cooking across events including meetings, weddings and conferences.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Head Chef or senior Sous Chef.
• Passion for fresh ingredients and great cooking.
• Strong track record in quality hospitality.
• Natural ability to lead, motivate and develop a kitchen team.
• Creativity to bring your own style and ideas to the menu.
• Guest-first approach and adaptability across events and occasions.
• Strong commercial awareness, including costs, labour and budgets.
• Excellent food safety and hygiene knowledge.
• Hands-on approach and resilience in a busy environment.
• Willingness to work weekends and peak service periods.

Responsibilities

• Lead, inspire and develop the kitchen brigade, creating a positive, high‑performing team environment.
• Own the culinary offer, bringing creativity and ideas to menus.
• Create food that looks as good as it tastes using quality ingredients.
• Adapt the approach for conferences, meetings, weddings and special events.
• Collaborate with the General Manager and leadership to improve food and guest experience.
• Manage budgets, food costs, labour and waste without compromising quality.
• Champion sustainability and support environmental goals.
• Ensure food safety, hygiene and compliance are at the highest standards.
• Lead by example during service and stay hands-on when busy.
• Embrace technology for ordering, waste management and menu planning.

Skills

Head Chef

Team leadership

Food cost control

Menu development

Food safety

Job description

Sedgebrook Hall in Northampton seeks a dynamic Head Chef to lead a busy kitchen, shape menus, and elevate guest experiences. You’ll run the kitchen with creativity, a hands-on approach and a clear eye for quality, consistency and food safety.

As part of The Venues Collection, you’ll work closely with the General Manager and leadership team, manage costs, mentor staff and champion sustainable, modern cooking across events including meetings, weddings and conferences.