Executive Chef - St Paul's School

Chartwells; London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an enthusiastic Executive Chef to lead their catering team in a prestigious environment. This role offers the chance to create imaginative menus and provide outstanding food and service in a busy setting. If you have a passion for culinary excellence and team leadership, this position is perfect for you. Join a company that values diversity and offers excellent career development opportunities while enjoying a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Contributory pension scheme

Career development programmes

Digital GP access

Travel discounts

Food shopping discounts

Cinema ticket discounts

Cash rewards

Wellness classes

Qualifications

• Proven experience as an Executive Chef or similar role in a catering environment.
• Strong understanding of food safety, budgeting, and menu planning.

Responsibilities

• Oversee food preparation and cooking, ensuring quality standards are met.
• Manage food safety procedures and control budgets effectively.
• Lead a team to deliver exceptional food services across multiple outlets.

Skills

Culinary Skills

Presentation Skills

Communication Skills

Staff Management

Budgeting

Food Safety Compliance

Teamwork

Organizational Skills

Education

Culinary Arts Degree

Food Safety Certification

Job description

We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package including, but not limited to:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Career development through 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 others
• Food shopping discounts at Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, and more
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets for your favorite blockbusters
• Cash rewards on spending, redeemable across various brands
• Free wellness, mindfulness, and exercise classes
• Share discounts and offers with friends and family

What you'll be doing:

Chartwells Independents is the leading provider of catering and support services to Independent Schools in the UK. We deliver innovative catering, hospitality, and food services by creating imaginative menus with exceptional service.

We believe great food starts with great ingredients. Our Chefs use seasonal produce and bring their creativity to ensure a diverse range of cuisines that meet today's trends, providing a memorable dining experience.

We develop our teams' skills, encouraging passion and inspiration. You will support high-quality education by providing outstanding food and service to pupils and staff, leading a team that shares a passion for preparing fresh, nutritious food daily.

This environment is complex and busy but offers a great work-life balance. We seek a talented, enthusiastic, and experienced Executive Chef to lead our catering team, producing outstanding food with the finest ingredients in this prestigious setting.

This is an excellent opportunity for an inspirational Executive Head Chef to establish a reputation within the contract catering industry. We offer support and development to grow within our business, along with a competitive salary.

More about the role:

• Deliver a variety of food and catering services across multiple outlets in a complex environment
• Plan, organize, and oversee food preparation and cooking, ensuring quality standards are met and reputation is enhanced
• Take responsibility for food production with a hands-on approach
• Drive sales through menu planning, promotions, and preferred supplier relationships
• Manage all aspects of food safety, HSE, and COSHH compliance
• Implement and monitor food safety procedures, control budgets, and oversee costs

Who you are:

• Excellent culinary and presentation skills
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Energetic with a passion for excellence
• Ability to manage staff calmly and inspiringly
• Proactive in waste prevention
• Passionate about food
• Team player
• Organized and efficient
• Numerate, computer literate, with financial understanding
• Knowledge of profit margins, purchasing policies, budgeting, and food costing

About Us:

As part of Compass, you'll help feed people, fuel progress, and forge connections across approximately 6,000 venues. Join us to advance your career with industry leaders, enjoying competitive pay, excellent perks, and unmatched learning and development opportunities at one of the UK's largest businesses.

Job Reference: com/2404/41296001/52718790/R/SU #Independent

Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can be themselves and has equal opportunities for career progression. We celebrate diversity and aim to create a culture where all team members feel valued, empowered, and able to thrive—because diversity is our strength!