Executive Head Chef

Restaurant Associates UK; Greater London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Contributory pension scheme

Career development programmes

Digital GP access

Travel discounts

Food shopping discounts

Cinema ticket discounts

Cash rewards programme

Wellness classes

Job summary

A leading food service provider in Greater London seeks an Executive Chef to lead kitchen operations across multiple locations. The successful candidate will design innovative menus, maintain high food quality standards, and collaborate with various stakeholders. This role requires strong leadership, commercial acumen, and a passion for culinary excellence. You will enjoy a competitive salary, a supportive work environment, and opportunities to shape food strategy and drive innovation.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as an Executive Chef or Senior Head Chef.
• Strong commercial and strategic mindset.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Passion for innovation and staying ahead of food trends.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all aspects of kitchen operations.
• Design and implement seasonal, innovative menus.
• Ensure high standards of food quality and compliance.
• Drive consistency, efficiency, and service excellence.
• Support the development of kitchen teams and nurture a positive culture.
• Collaborate with internal teams and clients to shape the food offer.
• Deliver strong commercial outcomes through smart, food-led decisions.

Skills

Leadership

Menu design

Communication

Commercial awareness

Innovation

Job description

Overview

Executive Chef – Monday to Friday

We’re looking for a strategic and forward-thinking Executive Chef to lead kitchen operations and help elevate our food offer across multiple busy, high-profile sites in East London. This is a key leadership role — not just about running a kitchen, but about shaping food strategy, driving innovation, and delivering excellence at every level.

About The Role

• Schedule: Monday to Friday (occasional evenings may be required)
• Hours: 40 hours per week

This is an exciting opportunity to take full ownership of a complex and diverse food operation, with a strong focus on both quality and consistency. The successful candidate will play a critical role in developing our food identity, leading culinary standards, and working closely with stakeholders to deliver a best-in-class experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all aspects of kitchen operations
• Design and implement seasonal, innovative menus
• Ensure high standards of food quality, presentation, and compliance
• Drive consistency, efficiency, and service excellence
• Support the development of kitchen teams and nurture a positive culture
• Collaborate with internal teams and clients to shape the food offer
• Deliver strong commercial outcomes through smart, food-led decisions

The Ideal Candidate

• Bring proven experience as an Executive Chef or Senior Head Chef
• Be a confident, strategic leader with a forward-thinking mindset
• Have strong commercial awareness and the ability to align food with business goals
• Be passionate about innovation and staying ahead of food trends
• Demonstrate excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Be reliable, organised, and committed to excellence across all areas

What We Offer

• Monday to Friday working – Occasional weekends.
• Autonomy to shape menus and influence food strategy
• A collaborative, professional, and supportive working environment
• Competitive salary and strong emphasis on work-life balance

Benefits

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

• Contributory pension scheme
• Grow your career with 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 many more
• Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
• Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
• Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
• You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families

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/0601/42659001/52700871/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!