Executive Chef - Royal Opera House

Company of Cooks; Greater London; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent catering company in Covent Garden is seeking an experienced Executive Chef to lead a team of 45-50 kitchen staff. This role involves menu development, budget management, and ensuring health compliance in a vibrant culinary environment. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills and culinary expertise, capable of enhancing the dining experience at high-profile venues. A competitive salary of £75,000 - £85,000 per annum, along with substantial benefits, is offered for this vital position.

Benefits

Personal Development and Training opportunities

Life assurance scheme

Pension scheme

Holiday allowance

Access to Healthcare Support App

A great wellbeing strategy

Family friendly support

Regular social events

Holiday purchase scheme

Volunteering days

Professional subscriptions

Recognition schemes and people awards

Long service awards

High street discount vouchers

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a leadership role within a restaurant or hotel environment.
• Strong culinary expertise and knowledge of various cuisines.
• Ability to manage budgets and financial performance.

Responsibilities

• Creating and implementing menus that align with client preferences.
• Supervising all aspects of kitchen operations.
• Managing a team of 40-50 kitchen staff.
• Controlling food costs and managing kitchen budgets.
• Ensuring quality and consistency of all culinary offerings.
• Upholding all health, safety, and sanitation standards.

Skills

Leadership in kitchen operations

Culinary expertise

Communication skills

Budget management

Understanding of food safety

Stress management

Client relationship management

Job description

We are Company of Cooks, and we believe brilliant food and drink starts with brilliant people. For over 25 years, we’ve been part of some of the UK’s most loved cultural destinations, from historic palaces and botanical gardens to buzzing galleries and performance spaces, running the cafés, restaurants, bars and events that bring these incredible places to life.

Our values – Craft, Creativity and Community – guide everything we do. They shape how we work together, how we support our partners, and how we make each guest feel welcome. If you care about food, people and doing things properly, you’ll feel right at home here.

Wherever we are, we do more than serve. We bring places to life through food, service and creativity and we’re looking for an Executive Chef to work with us at The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.

Location: Covent Garden, WC2E 9DD

Salary: £75,000 - £85,000 per annum + amazing benefits and package

Working Pattern: 40 hours per week, 5 over 7

About the Role:

We are looking for an experienced, commercially minded Executive Chef to manage a brigade of 45‑50 chefs and kitchen team members with us. We are looking for a chef who is creative, passionate about restaurant and retail concepts as within the The Royal Opera House we partner with Angela Hartnett to provide service in our terraced restaurant plus we also have a cafe and various event spaces on site that all provide F&B. We are looking for a leader to grow and develop our wonderful team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Menu Development & Execution: Creating and implementing menus that align with client preferences, dietary requirements, and event themes.
• Kitchen Operations: Supervising all aspects of kitchen operations, including food preparation, presentation, and service.
• Staff Management: Hiring, training, scheduling, and evaluating kitchen staff. Managing a team of 40‑50+
• Budgeting and Financial Management: Managing kitchen budgets, controlling food costs, and ensuring profitability.
• Quality Control: Ensuring consistency, quality, and presentation of all culinary offerings.
• Health and Safety Compliance: Upholding all health, safety, and sanitation standards.
• Contract Compliance: Ensuring compliance with contract terms and conditions, including service level agreements (SLAs).

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Proven experience in a leadership role within a restaurant or hotel environment
• Strong culinary expertise and knowledge of various cuisines.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
• Ability to manage budgets and financial performance.
• Strong understanding of food safety and hygiene regulations.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Excellent client relationship management experience

What's in it for you?

Working with Company of Cooks has its perks! People are at the heart of everything we do, so we've developed a range of benefits to keep you happy.

Benefits:

• Personal Development and Training opportunities
• Life assurance scheme
• Pension scheme
• Holiday allowance
• Access to Healthcare Support App which includes Annual health check, Digital GP, Mental Health Consultations, Nutritional Consultations, Second Medical Opinion
• Eye care
• A great wellbeing strategy – including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, salary finance
• Family friendly support
• Regular social events and communication with our leaders
• A holiday purchase scheme
• Volunteering days
• Professional subscriptions
• Recognition schemes and peopleawards
• Long service awards
• Access to some great high street discount vouchers