Head Chef

Compass Group UK; Atherstone; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading hospitality provider in the UK is seeking a Head Chef to lead culinary operations at Twycross Zoo. You will develop innovative menus and manage kitchen operations to ensure high-quality food delivery in a fast-paced environment. Ideal candidates have a proven track record in high-volume settings, strong leadership skills, and a passion for food and hospitality. This full-time role offers competitive benefits, including staff meals and career development opportunities.

Benefits

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Competitive pension contribution

Enhanced maternity/paternity pay

Free staff meals

Free staff parking

Opportunities for growth and development

Qualifications

• Proven track record as a Head Chef in a high‑volume environment.
• Experience in visitor attractions and contract catering is desirable.
• Ability to achieve financial targets while maintaining high quality.

Responsibilities

• Oversee kitchen operations and ensure food safety compliance.
• Create and adapt menus for a broad visitor base.
• Manage budgets and control wastage effectively.

Skills

Leadership skills

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Knowledge of food trends

Customer focus

Team development

Creativity

Adaptability

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Head Chef

Location: Twycross Zoo

Salary: Up to £45,000 per annum

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent, 5 out of 7 days

About the Role

As the Head Chef at Twycross Zoo, you will be joining this popular visitor attraction, to lead and develop the culinary offering. This role will be responsible for the food offerings in the multi‑outlet catering operation based on site, which consists of a mixture of concession outlets, grab & go kiosks and restaurants. This venue is predominantly retail food‑led, so an individual with experience of high volume and high‑quality food delivery would be ideal for this role.

Success in this role means that visitors consistently enjoy food sold across all outlets, with the kitchens running efficiently, safely, and profitably. The successful candidate will continue to build on the great relationship we already have with the client, to work with them on continuing to view the catering offer as a key part of the success of Twycross Zoo.

What We Offer

• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Competitive pension contribution offer
• Enhanced maternity/paternity pay
• Free staff meals whilst working on site
• Free staff parking
• A supportive, values‑driven culture within cohesive teams
• Opportunities for growth and development within a national business
• A chance to make a meaningful impact in a continuously growing sector

Key Responsibilities

• Menu Development & Innovation – create and adapt menus that appeal to a broad visitor base, including family‑friendly options, dietary requirements, and seasonal specials.
• Operational Excellence – oversee all kitchen operations, ensuring compliance with food safety legislation, company policies, and contractual obligations.
• Leadership & Team Development – recruit, train, and inspire a motivated kitchen team, fostering a positive and professional working culture.
• Cost Control & Profitability – manage budgets, control wastage, and achieve GP targets without compromising quality.
• Collaboration – work closely with front‑of‑house teams, site management, and the client to deliver a consistent and memorable food experience.
• Event Catering – experience in large‑scale eventing.

What We're Looking For

• Proven track record as a Head Chef in a high‑volume, high‑quality environment.
• Experience within visitor attractions and contract catering is highly desirable.
• Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to lead by example.
• Excellent organisational skills, especially during peak periods.
• Sound knowledge of food trends, allergens, and dietary requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve financial targets while maintaining high quality.
• Good IT and Microsoft Office skills.
• Passionate about food and hospitality with a strong customer focus.
• Adaptable and resilient in a fast‑paced, ever‑changing environment.
• Creative, commercially aware, and results‑driven.
• Committed to sustainability and responsible sourcing.

About Us

Restaurant Associates is a leading premium hospitality provider with an ethos drawn from our history of fine and high‑quality dining in London and New York.

Within our venues team, we provide catering and hospitality services to some of the most iconic visitor attractions and destinations in the UK including the Imperial War Museum London, Glyndebourne Opera House, Knebworth House, Design Museum, Whipsnade Zoo and many more. Within these amazing venues we operate a host of bespoke cafés and restaurants, as well as delivering private events ranging from small meetings to large‑scale ground events of up to 1000 people.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive, diverse, fun, and dynamic place to work with opportunities to collaborate with a wide range of teams plus a commitment to putting our people first. Restaurant Associates is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds. As a business, we are committed to sustainability‑led practices and are proud to have achieved 3 stars with the Sustainable Restaurant Association’s Food Made Good Programme.