Executive Chef

Compass Group UK; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

Pension scheme

PerksAtWork benefits

Career progression

Job summary

Chartwells, part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, seeks an Executive Chef to lead culinary operations across a midlands portfolio of state school contracts. You will set standards, mentor Chef Managers and drive innovation and profitability at scale.

The role requires leadership of multiple sites, development of nutritious menus, and strong financial and stakeholder management to enhance meal participation and overall client satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Executive Chef or senior culinary leader.
• Experience across multiple school catering operations.
• Strong understanding of nutrition, allergens, and school food standards.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to drive cost control and profitability across sites.

Responsibilities

• Lead culinary teams across multiple school sites.
• Develop nutritious, seasonal menus aligned with standards.
• Drive quality, presentation and consistency across sites.
• Coach and develop Chef Managers and teams.
• Ensure food safety and allergen management compliance.
• Analyse costs, labour and wastage to maximise efficiency.
• Support growth strategies and increase meal participation.
• Represent Chartwells in client presentations and tenders.
• Champion innovation and sustainability in the region.
• Build relationships with school leaders and stakeholders.

Skills

Executive leadership

Multi-site leadership

Financial acumen

Stakeholder management

Nutrition & food safety

Job description

Executive Chef

Chartwells State Schools | Salary: £60,000 per annum + Benefits

Lead Culinary Excellence Across Education Catering

At Chartwells, part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, we're passionate about delivering nutritious, innovative and great-tasting meals that support pupils' wellbeing and academic success. Every week we serve millions of meals across schools and educational settings throughout the UK.

We're seeking an exceptional Executive Chef to lead culinary operations across a portfolio of State School contracts throughout the Midlands. This is an exciting opportunity for a highly accomplished chef leader who thrives on developing teams, driving food innovation and delivering outstanding operational results at scale.

The Opportunity

As Executive Chef, you will be responsible for setting culinary standards, developing food concepts, mentoring Chef Managers and culinary teams, and ensuring every school delivers an exceptional dining experience that exceeds client expectations. You will work closely with Operational Managers, clients and school stakeholders to enhance meal uptake, improve food quality and drive commercial performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire culinary teams across multiple school catering operations.
• Develop innovative, nutritious and seasonal menus aligned with education catering standards.
• Drive food quality, presentation and consistency across all sites.
• Support Chef Managers with training, coaching and succession planning.
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, allergen management, health & safety and company procedures.
• Deliver culinary audits and support operational excellence initiatives.
• Analyse food costs, labour performance and wastage to maximise efficiency and profitability.
• Partner with operational leaders to implement growth strategies and increase meal participation.
• Support client presentations, tenders and retention activity.
• Champion innovation, sustainability and best practice throughout the region.
• Act as a visible ambassador for Chartwells, building strong relationships with school leaders and stakeholders.

What We’re Looking For

We're looking for an ambitious culinary professional who combines outstanding food credentials with exceptional leadership capability.

Essential Experience

• Proven experience operating as an Executive Chef, Regional Chef or Senior Culinary Leader.
• Multi‑site catering experience within education, contract catering or a comparable volume foodservice environment.
• Strong commercial awareness and financial management capability.
• Track record of leading, coaching and developing high‑performing teams.
• Strong understanding of nutrition, allergens, food safety and school food standards.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to influence and engage teams across multiple locations.

Personal Attributes

• Passionate about food, innovation and customer experience.
• Inspirational leader with a collaborative approach.
• Commercially focused with a strong attention to detail.
• Resilient, adaptable and results‑driven.
• Committed to delivering excellence and continuous improvement.

What We Offer

• £60,000 per annum
• Performance‑related bonus opportunity
• Monday to Friday working pattern
• Career progression within Compass Group UK & Ireland
• Industry‑leading training and development programmes
• Pension scheme
• Employee benefits through PerksAtWork
• The opportunity to shape food strategy across one of the UK's leading education catering providers.

About Chartwells

Part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, Chartwells has spent over 25 years helping pupils build healthy habits through nutritious food and outstanding dining experiences. We are committed to supporting schools with innovative food solutions that encourage healthier lifestyles and create positive experiences every day.

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

Part of Compass Group UK&I, Chartwells is the leading provider of catering and support services to the education sector. For over a quarter of a century, Chartwells has been focusing on helping those in education to build strong bodies, sharp minds and lead long healthy lives. Every week, Chartwells serves millions of nutritious and delicious meals to pupils and students in primary and secondary schools, academies, independent schools, colleges, and universities across the UK. Chartwells is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all employees to share this commitment. Any offer of employment will be subject to successfully completing pre‑employment checks, including an enhanced DBS disclosure and a Children’s Barred List check. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and we ask applicants to declare all previous convictions and cautions in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

Job Reference: com/2809/435800/52836138/SU #State Schools

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!