Executive chef

Eataly; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A premium dining establishment in Greater London seeks an experienced Executive Chef to oversee the operations of their busy kitchen teams across multiple restaurants. You will lead a staff of 60 chefs and ensure exceptional culinary quality while managing budgets and collaborating with leadership teams. Ideal candidates will have over 7 years in the kitchen, 5 of which should be in management. The position offers healthcare benefits, 28 days holiday, employee discounts, and internal career progression opportunities.

Benefits

Private healthcare including optical + dental

28 days holiday + bank holidays

Generous pension scheme

Income protection & life assurance

Free meal on shift

20% employee discount

Discounted gym memberships

Cycle to work scheme

Employee assistance program

Qualifications

• 7+ years of chef experience, including 5+ years of management experience.
• Extensive experience leading a large team including 60 chefs.
• Experience with authentic Italian cuisine and knowledge of the UK marketplace.
• Strong business acumen in costing and budgeting.
• Availability for a flexible schedule including evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Directs back‑of‑house strategy to maximise profitability and quality.
• Leads a team of senior chefs across multiple outlets.
• Works with HR to build a talent pipeline through development.
• Develops recipes and menus focused on Italian authenticity.
• Collaborates with store leadership to create a seamless experience.

Skills

Chef experience

Team leadership

Budget management

Relationship-building skills

Fluent in English

Fluent in Italian

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Data: 08/12/2025

Located in the heart of the City, Eataly London is a diverse, multi-outlet operation that harmoniously combines retail, restaurants, bars, and various other departments to create an exceptional guest experience. As part of the Eataly London team, you'll contribute to our mission of sharing the rich flavours and traditions of Italy with our guests while fostering a vibrant atmosphere for friends and families to gather. Founded in Northern Italy in 2007, Eataly has since expanded its unique stores and concepts to 14 countries across 3 continents. Each location is dedicated to sharing our core ethos of EAT, SHOP, and LEARN.

Located in the vibrant heart of the city, Eataly London is dedicated to offering the finest Italian cuisine and products. We are on the lookout for an experienced Executive Chef to oversee and elevate the operations of our back‑of‑house team. Our Bishopsgate store is home to two restaurants (Pasta&Pizza and Terra by Carlo Cracco), a production kitchen, a fresh pasta, Pizza Pala and a quick service kitchen, a bakery, and a pastry lab. In this key role, you will oversee and coordinate the entire kitchen team, ensuring flawless operations and consistently exceptional culinary experiences, while also managing wage budgets and financial performance and supporting during service when needed.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES…

• Directs and organises the back‑of‑house strategy to maximise profitability and quality.
• Lead a team of senior chefs to drive success in their individual outlets.
• Represent the back of house as the most senior figure within the department – encourage an engaging atmosphere.
• Work with HR to build a talent pipeline through training and development.
• Develops recipes and menus focused on Italian authenticity, seasonality and high-quality ingredients.
• Develop costing for items, produce and dishes effectively to maximise both profit and guest satisfaction.
• Partners interdepartmentally with the store senior leadership team and with corporate to implement initiatives, plan special events and share information.
• Analyses financial data, builds a budget, and develops strategies aimed at increasing efficiencies and profit.
• Collaborates closely with the Store Director, the Restaurant Manager and the Quick Service Restaurant Manager to create a seamless and efficient restaurant experience.
• Works in alignment with the Staff Planner to ensure scheduling and organisation of activities are properly matching business operations’ needs.
• Documents, investigates and resolves employee and guest incidents whenever necessary and in partnership with other managers and HR.
• Works closely with the Health & Safety and learning team to ensure a compliant and safe store.
• Emphasise teamwork between the kitchen and front‑of‑house teams to ensure seamless service, communication, and a smooth operation.

• 7+ years of chef experience, including 5+ years of management experience.
• Extensive experience leading a large team of chefs. Our back‑of‑house team includes 60 Chefs.
• Experience managing multiple outlets/restaurants/concepts at the same time.
• Experience with authentic Italian cuisine and a knowledge of the Italian food UK marketplace.
• Experience in costing and budgeting, and strong business acumen.
• Availability to work onsite with a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends and holidays.
• Strong relationship‑building skills with both internal and external teams.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Outlook.
• Willingness to be flexible and support multiple teams.
• Fluent in English and Italian.
• Right to work in the UK.

BENEFITS AVAILABLE…

• Private healthcare including optical + dental.
• 28 days holiday + bank holidays
• Generous pension scheme - pay in 3% Eataly pays in 5%
• Income protection & life assurance
• Free meal on shift.
• Internal career progression and global opportunities across the Eataly stores.
• 20% employee discount across retail, bars, and restaurants.
• Discounted Gym memberships.
• WeCare - a health platform offering access to 24/7 GP, Financial, Mental and Physical well‑being.
• MyEataly - our own benefit portal offering you free discounts, rewards, and cashback programs.
• 'Refer a Friend' and earn up to £300 per person.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• No interest technology loans.
• Employee assistance program.
• And much more available through our benefits platform.