Executive Chef

Sodexo; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mental health & wellbeing support

Employee Assistance Programme

24/7 virtual GP & lifestyle rewards

Discounts for you & your family

Financial wellbeing tools & retirement

Cycle to Work scheme & Paid Volunteern

Job summary

Sodexo in Edinburgh is seeking an experienced Executive Chef to lead our culinary operation in the heart of the city. You’ll take overall responsibility for the kitchen, drive menu development, food quality, standards and team performance.

This senior role requires budget and stock management, strong food safety compliance, and the ability to inspire the kitchen team while delivering exceptional catering across the business.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading culinary teams and developing innovative food offers.
• Strong budget management and stock control abilities.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.
• CIEH Level 3 Food Safety and IOSH Managing Safely qualifications are desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop an innovative, customer-focused food offer including menu development and presentation.
• Drive commercial performance by managing budgets, margins, stock and wastage.
• Ensure high standards across all operations and compliance with food safety and audits.
• Recruit, train and coach the culinary team to achieve high performance.
• Build strong relationships with clients, suppliers and stakeholders.
• Lead marketing and local sourcing initiatives while driving continuous improvement.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Menu development

Team leadership

Budget management

Food safety

Communication skills

Education

CIEH Level 3 Food Safety

IOSH Managing Safely

Tools

Relevant systems

Job description

• 40 hours per week


• Monday to Friday


• £45,000 per annum

Are you an inspirational culinary leader with a passion for exceptional food and outstanding service? Sodexo is looking for an experiencedExecutive Chefto lead our culinary operation in the heart ofEdinburgh.

In this senior role, you'll take overall responsibility for the kitchen operation, driving menu development, food quality, culinary standards and team performance. You'll lead and inspire the kitchen team, manage budgets and stock, and ensure the highest standards of food safety and compliance are maintained.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a talented chef to make their mark in a dynamic environment, combining creativity and leadership to deliver an exceptional catering experience across all areas of the business.

What you'll do:

• Lead and develop an innovative, customer-focused food offer, including menu development, food quality, presentation, healthy eating and emerging food trends.


• Drive commercial performance by growing sales and patronage, managing budgets, margins, stock and wastage while delivering excellent value and choice.


• Ensure consistently high standards across all food operations, including meal services and functions, while meeting customer, client and Sodexo expectations.


• Maintain full compliance with food safety, Health & Safety, audits, KPIs, risk assessments, documentation and Service Level Agreements.


• Lead, motivate and develop the culinary team through recruitment, training, coaching, performance management and effective people engagement.


• Build strong relationships with customers, clients, suppliers and stakeholders, while driving marketing, social impact, local sourcing and continuous improvement initiatives.

What you bring:

• Proven experience developing innovative food offers that meet client and customer needs.


• Excellent communication, interpersonal, organisational and time-management skills.


• Ability to lead by example, work under pressure, use initiative and deliver consistently high standards.


• Self-motivated, flexible and committed to continuous learning and development.CIEH Level 3 Food Safety and IOSH Managing Safely qualifications.


• Experience managing budgets, with good financial and commercial awareness.


• Experience delivering training, coaching and developing team members.


• Good computer literacy and confidence using relevant systems.

What we offer:

Working with Sodexo is more than a job - it's an opportunity to use your skills in a role that has a genuine purpose. You'll be part of a supportive team where your contribution is valued, while enjoying the benefits and support of a large organisation. Alongside this, you'll enjoy:

Mental health & wellbeing support

Employee Assistance Programme for personal, legal, and financial advice

24/7 virtual GP & lifestyle rewards

Discounts for you & your family

Financial wellbeing tools & retirement plan

Cycle to Work scheme & Paid Volunteering Day