Executive Head Chef - Croydon

Chartwells Independent; Croydon; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an Executive Head Chef to lead culinary innovation and ensure quality in food preparation. This role offers the chance to showcase your culinary skills and creativity while managing a large team in a dynamic environment. With a focus on customer engagement and satisfaction, you will play a pivotal role in enhancing the dining experience for students and staff alike. Join a company that values diversity and provides excellent opportunities for career growth and development, along with a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Free meals

Free on-site gym and pool

Onsite free car parking

Contributory pension scheme

Career development programs

Digital GP access

Travel discounts

Grocery discounts

Cinema ticket discounts

Wellness classes

Qualifications

• Proven experience as an Executive Chef with a track record of catering for large numbers.
• Exceptional culinary skills and a passion for food and customer service.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and direct food preparation to enhance the company's reputation.
• Ensure food safety and budgetary control while leading a large team.

Skills

Culinary Skills

Food Innovation

Leadership

Customer Service

Organizational Skills

Financial Understanding

Job description

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:

• Monday to Friday, 7am to 3pm (very occasional Saturday and weekend overtime)
• Free meals
• Free on-site gym and pool
• Onsite free car parking
• 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

What you'll be doing:

As the Executive Head Chef you will be an ambassador for Compass for all things food related, striving to innovate the food offer and keeping abreast of current food trends. This is a fantastic opportunity for an inspirational and enthusiastic Executive Chef to make a name for themselves within the contract catering industry.

In return we offer support and development to grow within our business alongside a competitive salary.

More about the role:

• The Executive Chef will plan, organise and direct the preparation and cooking of food ensuring that the company’s reputation for quality is enhanced with students, staff and visitors at all times.
• Adopt a hands-on approach taking responsibility for the food production covering all employee dining along with an extensive range of pop ups.
• Possess an exceptional drive for quality and innovation.
• Responsible for all aspects of food safety, Health & Safety and COSHH.
• The Executive Chef will be required to implement and maintain food monitoring procedures to facilitate budgetary control and to monitor all costs involved in the kitchen against agreed budgets.

Who you are:

• Proven experience in a role as Executive Chef being able to demonstrate a track record of catering for large numbers but at the same time making the customer feel that their meal has been individually prepared for them.
• Have a ‘big personality’, great people skills and be able to lead, develop, train and inspire a large team.
• Have a real passion for food and customer service along with bags of enthusiasm and recognising that customer engagement is key.
• Food Innovation and development is essential along with being up to date with current food trends.
• Ability to communicate at all levels.
• Superb culinary skills.
• Good financial understanding.
• High standards and be quality driven.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• A 'Can do' attitude.

About Us:

As part of Compass you'll help to feed people, fuel progress and forge connections in around 6,000 venues. Join us to grow your career with the industry leader, and get competitive pay, great perks and unrivalled opportunities for learning and development, at one of the UK's biggest businesses.

Job Reference: com/1004/41692001/52732384/SU #Independent

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!