Executive Head Chef- The Vox NEC

Chartwells Independent; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Meals on duty

Annual leave 23 days + bank holidays

Pension and life assurance

Wellbeing support

Job summary

The Vox, part of NEC Group Conventions, is seeking an Executive Chef to take overall responsibility for its culinary operation, delivering exceptional food across conferences, meetings, functions and events. You will lead a talented kitchen team, drive quality, manage costs and foster a positive, high-performance culture.

Ideal candidates will have senior culinary leadership experience, strong menu development skills, and a proven ability to deliver scalable, event-driven catering with a focus

Qualifications

• Relevant professional culinary qualifications or equivalent experience.
• Proven experience as an Executive Chef or in a comparable senior culinary leadership role.
• Strong experience across menu planning, food preparation and kitchen management.
• Experience leading, mentoring and developing a diverse kitchen team.
• Strong commercial awareness with experience managing food costs, budgets and purchasing.
• Excellent knowledge of food safety, hygiene and compliance requirements.
• Experience delivering high-quality food at scale, ideally within events, conferences, hospitality or a similar environment.
• A creative approach to menu development, with the ability to cater for a wide range of tastes and dietary requirements.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with Sales, Events and wider venue teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the culinary operation across conferences, meetings, functions and events at The Vox.
• Oversee and participate in the preparation and cooking of food, ensuring consistently high standards of quality, taste and presentation.
• Plan and execute catering for events, ensuring food and service meet the expectations of guests, clients and wider stakeholders.
• Lead, mentor and develop the kitchen team, creating a positive, cohesive and productive working environment.
• Provide training and support to chefs and kitchen assistants, including culinary techniques relevant to large-scale event catering.
• Manage food costs and the kitchen budget, ensuring commercial targets are achieved without compromising quality.
• Oversee purchasing and sourcing, ensuring ingredients are obtained economically and to the required quality standards.
• Maintain accurate records of expenditure, stock and inventory.
• Oversee ordering, storage and stock management, minimising waste and maximising efficiency.
• Maintain consistently high standards of food quality and presentation through effective quality control.
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, health and safety, hygiene and dietary requirements.
• Conduct regular checks and audits to maintain high standards across the kitchen operation.
• Work closely with the Venue Sales and Event Management teams to understand requirements and deliver outstanding culinary experiences.
• Continuously look for opportunities to improve menus, processes and the overall guest experience.
• Stay up to date with culinary trends, techniques and innovation, bringing fresh ideas and creativity to the operation.
• Champion sustainability, responsible sourcing and the Levy approach to food and hospitality.

Skills

Executive Chef

Menu planning

Food cost management

Kitchen leadership

Food safety & compliance

Education

Professional culinary qualifications

Job description

Executive Chef - The Vox, NEC Group Conventions, Birmingham | Full-Time / Permanent

Competitive salary + excellent benefits including healthcare, wellbeing support, 23 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, life assurance, meals on duty, and more.

We’re looking for...

We’re looking for an exceptionalExecutive Chef to lead the culinary operation atThe Vox, part of NEC Group Conventions. This is a fantastic opportunity for a senior culinary leader to take ownership of a high-profile events operation, leading a talented kitchen team and delivering exceptional food experiences across conferences, meetings, functions and events.

You’ll combine culinary creativity with strong commercial and operational thinking, ensuring consistently high standards while managing costs, developing your team and delivering food that makes a real impact on the guest experience.

We are Levy

We are a visionary venue partner. We design and deliver bespoke guest experiences that prioritise people and the planet.

Trusted by some of the world’s most iconic stadiums, entertainment venues, and major events – from Wimbledon and Twickenham to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Edgbaston, the SEC and Excel London – we bring experiences to life with passion and precision.

Our mission is to succeed the right way. From pioneering tech and seamless operations to show-stopping menus and exceptional service, we use insight and innovation to understand guests, improve the customer journey, reduce environmental impact, and support local communities.

We are a passionate, diverse team of venue specialists dedicated to making the planet better for future generations.

Executive Chef - The Role

As Executive Chef, you’ll take overall responsibility for the culinary operation at The Vox, ensuring exceptional food, efficient kitchen operations and a strong team culture.

You’ll:

• Lead and oversee the culinary operation across conferences, meetings, functions and events at The Vox.
• Oversee and participate in the preparation and cooking of food, ensuring consistently high standards of quality, taste and presentation.
• Plan and execute catering for events, ensuring food and service meet the expectations of guests, clients and wider stakeholders.
• Lead, mentor and develop the kitchen team, creating a positive, cohesive and productive working environment.
• Provide training and support to chefs and kitchen assistants, including culinary techniques relevant to large-scale event catering.
• Manage food costs and the kitchen budget, ensuring commercial targets are achieved without compromising quality.
• Oversee purchasing and sourcing, ensuring ingredients are obtained economically and to the required quality standards.
• Maintain accurate records of expenditure, stock and inventory.
• Oversee ordering, storage and stock management, minimising waste and maximising efficiency.
• Maintain consistently high standards of food quality and presentation through effective quality control.
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, health and safety, hygiene and dietary requirements.
• Conduct regular checks and audits to maintain high standards across the kitchen operation.
• Work closely with the Venue Sales and Event Management teams to understand requirements and deliver outstanding culinary experiences.
• Continuously look for opportunities to improve menus, processes and the overall guest experience.
• Stay up to date with culinary trends, techniques and innovation, bringing fresh ideas and creativity to the operation.
• Champion sustainability, responsible sourcing and the Levy approach to food and hospitality.

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for an experienced senior culinary leader who combines a genuine passion for food with strong commercial, operational and people leadership skills.

You’ll ideally have:

• Relevant professional culinary qualifications or equivalent experience.
• Proven experience as an Executive Chef or in a comparable senior culinary leadership role.
• Strong experience across menu planning, food preparation and kitchen management.
• Experience leading, mentoring and developing a diverse kitchen team.
• Strong commercial awareness with experience managing food costs, budgets and purchasing.
• Excellent knowledge of food safety, hygiene and compliance requirements.
• Experience delivering high-quality food at scale, ideally within events, conferences, hospitality or a similar environment.
• A creative approach to menu development, with the ability to cater for a wide range of tastes and dietary requirements.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with Sales, Events and wider venue teams.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• A flexible and adaptable approach, with the ability to work evenings and weekends as required.
• A genuine passion for culinary excellence and delivering memorable food experiences.

What you’ll get in return

• Competitive salary with bonus and full company benefits
• 23 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, your birthday off, and a holiday purchase scheme
• Healthcare & wellbeing: Aviva Digicare, Medicash (dental, optical, therapy treatments)
• Mental health support: 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Family benefits: Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave. 2 days’ additional leave after returning from maternity leave, day off for your baby’s first birthday, enhanced family leave
• Perks & discounts: Shopping, entertainment, and travel discounts, 20% off Nuffield Health and 10% off PureGym memberships
• Financial wellbeing: Pension scheme, Life Assurance, preferred rates on salary finance products
• Development opportunities: Professional subscriptions, ongoing training and structured career pathways
• Meals on duty included
• Vodafone discounts
• Exclusive Benefits & Wellbeing site (Perks at Work)
• Entertainment discounts – up to 55% off cinema tickets
• Travel discounts with holiday companies such as TUI and Expedia
• Shopping discounts – save up to 15% at high street and online stores through Shopping Cards

Why Join Us?

The Vox is part ofNEC Group Conventions, one of the UK’s leading destinations for conferences, meetings and events. Located within the NEC campus, The Vox provides a high-quality setting for everything from large-scale conferences and exhibitions to meetings, dinners and special events.

As part of Levy, you’ll join a business that partners with some of the world’s most iconic venues and events, with a genuine passion for great food, exceptional service and unforgettable guest experiences.

We are culinary champions – it’s what we do and what we’re passionate about. Great food, responsibly sourced ingredients and exceptional service sit at the heart of everything we deliver.

We’re also committed to doing the right thing for our people and the planet, with sustainability, wellbeing, diversity and inclusion at the heart of our approach.

Levy UK & Ireland is part of Compass Group, the world’s largest catering company, and a vibrant leader in hospitality.

We believe in celebrating individuality and building inclusive teams where everyone feels they belong. Our diverse team fuels creativity, innovation, and excellence.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome candidates from all backgrounds to join us in creating a supportive, empowering workplace where everyone can thrive.

Together, we create unforgettable experiences – and shape the future of hospitality.