Executive Chef

Compass Group UK; Durnford Farm; On-site; GBP 58,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Contributory pension scheme

Career Pathways & MyLearning

Healthcare benefits for you and family

Travel discounts with major providers

Cinema discounts

Cash rewards

Wellbeing & fitness classes

Discounts for friends & family

Job summary

Restaurant Associates is seeking an exceptional Executive Chef to lead a high-volume, high-end contract catering operation delivering outstanding staff dining and premium hospitality. This client-facing role requires strong leadership, relationship-building with senior stakeholders, and a passion for culinary excellence.

You will manage a large brigade, drive innovation, maintain top food safety standards, and collaborate with operations and hospitality teams to exceed client expectations.

Qualifications

• Proven Executive Chef experience in high-end contract catering.
• Experience delivering staff dining and premium hospitality.
• Excellent client relationship management and ability to engage senior stakeholders.
• Experience leading large kitchen brigades and developing talent.
• Collaborative leader with a passion for mentoring chefs.
• Strong operational and organisational skills helpful for high-volume catering.
• Creativity in menu concepts and hospitality innovation.

Responsibilities

• Lead a large-scale contract catering operation across staff dining and premium hospitality.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients and stakeholders, acting as culinary lead on site.
• Deliver outstanding hospitality experiences; ensure events reflect highest culinary standards.
• Collaborate with senior teams to provide seamless service across operations.
• Present monthly food concepts and seasonal menus to clients.
• Inspire and develop a brigade of 15 chefs, fostering a high-performing kitchen culture.
• Drive consistency, quality and efficiency in a high-volume environment.
• Respond to changing client requirements with creative, solution-focused outcomes.
• Maintain highest food safety, compliance and financial standards while improving the operation.

Skills

Executive Chef experience

Staff dining & hospitality

Client relationship management

Leading large brigades

Mentoring chefs

Operations & organisation

Menu innovation

Commercial awareness

Job description

Executive Chef – High-End Contract Catering (Hospitality & Staff Dining)

Up to £64,000 + Paid Overtime + Excellent Benefits

We are looking for an exceptional Executive Chef with a proven background in high-end contract catering to lead a prestigious, high-volume culinary operation delivering both exceptional staff dining and premium hospitality.

This is a client-facing leadership role where your ability to build strong relationships, inspire your team, and deliver outstanding food experiences will be just as important as your culinary expertise. Working within a fast-paced, ever-evolving environment, you will be the culinary figurehead on site, partnering closely with senior stakeholders to ensure every service exceeds expectations.

Following significant investment and expansion, the kitchen now operates with increased production, an enhanced hospitality offering, and a growing brigade. This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially minded Executive Chef who thrives on innovation, collaboration, and delivering excellence.

As Executive Chef, you will take full ownership of a large-scale culinary operation, overseeing both staff dining and high-end hospitality while acting as the key culinary contact for the client. You responsibilities will include:

• Lead a large-scale contract catering operation across both staff dining and premium hospitality.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients and key stakeholders, becoming the trusted culinary lead on site.
• Deliver an exceptional hospitality experience, ensuring every event reflects the highest culinary standards.
• Collaborate with senior hospitality and operational teams to deliver seamless service.
• Present monthly food concepts, seasonal menus, and innovation sessions directly to clients.
• Lead, develop, and inspire a growing brigade of 15 chefs, creating a positive, high-performing kitchen culture.
• Drive consistency, quality, and operational efficiency across a high-volume production environment.
• Respond confidently to changing client requirements, providing creative, solution-focused outcomes.
• Maintain the highest food safety, compliance, and financial standards while continuously improving the operation.

We're looking for an inspirational Executive Chef who combines exceptional culinary ability with outstanding client management skills. You will have:

• Proven Executive Chef experience within high-end contract catering.
• A strong background delivering both staff dining and premium hospitality.
• Excellent client relationship management skills with the confidence to engage, influence, and present to senior stakeholders.
• Experience leading large kitchen brigades, developing talent, and creating high-performing teams.
• A collaborative leadership style with a genuine passion for mentoring and coaching chefs.
• A strong Head Chef or Executive Chef background with exceptional operational and organisational skills.
• Creativity and innovation, with the ability to develop exciting menus and hospitality concepts.
• The ability to remain calm under pressure while adapting quickly in a fast-moving environment.
• Commercial awareness with a focus on delivering exceptional food while maintaining operational efficiency.

This is an outstanding opportunity to join one of the UK's leading contract caterers, leading a prestigious site where hospitality, innovation, and client relationships sit at the heart of the operation.

If you're an experienced Executive Chef who enjoys building lasting client partnerships, leading exceptional teams, and delivering world-class hospitality alongside high-volume catering, we'd love to hear from you.

Package & Benefits

In return, you'll receive a competitive salary of up to £64,000 plus paid overtime, alongside an excellent benefits package including:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Career Pathways and MyLearning development programmes
• Digital GP access and comprehensive healthcare benefits for you and your immediate family
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and more
• Supermarket discounts with Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and other leading retailers
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets
• Cash rewards across a wide range of brands
• Free wellbeing, mindfulness and fitness classes
• The opportunity to share discounts and benefits with your friends and family

About Us

Restaurant Associates provides brilliant hospitality through our food, drink and services. We work with our partners and collaborate with our clients to achieve great things together.Every day, our teams of passionate hospitality professionals strive for excellence in delivering employee dining and hospitality to some of the UK's leading workplace as well as inspiring exceptional experiences in iconic cultural and heritage destinations.

Job Reference: com/0308/99570001/52744160/R/SU #RA Group

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!