Head Chef

Compass Group UK; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Career development

Digital GP access

Travel discounts

Food discounts

Cinema discounts

Cash rewards

Wellness classes

Discount sharing with family

Job summary

Compass Group UK is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead the kitchen operation in a newly refurbished corporate staff restaurant. You will blend high-quality staff dining with premium hospitality in a modern environment featuring a pre-order app and AI-powered tills.

You will manage a small kitchen team, develop seasonal menus, and ensure exceptional food quality, safety and cost control across dining and events.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Head Chef or senior kitchen leader in staff dining, workplace catering or contract catering.
• Strong hospitality and event catering experience.
• Passion for fresh, modern, bistro-style food.
• Experience managing and developing a small kitchen team.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, hygiene and kitchen compliance.
• Commercially minded approach balancing quality, customer experience and cost control.
• Ability to stay calm, organised and hands-on during busy services.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop and motivate a small kitchen team (Sous, CDP, Kitchen Porter).
• Hands-on during service and lead by example.
• Develop innovative, seasonal and commercially focused menus.
• Deliver food to high standards of quality, taste and presentation.
• Plan effectively for busy trading periods, hospitality needs and events.
• Collaborate with management and stakeholders to meet requirements.
• Maintain food safety, hygiene and health & safety standards.
• Manage food costs, waste and stock while maintaining quality.
• Be flexible, using agency support for larger events and peak periods.

Skills

Leadership

Kitchen management

Menu development

Food safety & hygiene

Cost control

Event catering

Team development

Planning & organisation

Hands-on leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Tools

Pre-order app

AI-powered tills

Job description

We are looking for an experienced and passionate Head Chef to lead the kitchen operation within a newly refurbished corporate staff restaurant.

This is an exciting opportunity for a creative chef who enjoys combining high-quality staff dining with premium hospitality, working in a modern environment with the latest technology, including a pre-order app and AI-powered tills.

Alongside the daily staff restaurant operation, you will also oversee a varied hospitality and events programme, from working lunches and sandwich platters through to high-quality bistro-style dinners, corporate events and client functions.

As Head Chef, you will take ownership of the kitchen operation, ensuring consistently high standards across both staff dining and hospitality.

You will:

• Lead, develop and motivate a small kitchen team consisting of a Sous Chef, Chef de Partie and Kitchen Porter.
• Be hands-on during service and lead by example.
• Develop innovative, seasonal and commercially focused menus.
• Deliver food to a high standard of quality, taste and presentation.
• Plan effectively for busy trading periods, hospitality requirements and events.
• Work closely with the wider management team and key stakeholders to understand and deliver their requirements.
• Maintain excellent food safety, hygiene and health & safety standards.
• Manage food costs, waste and stock effectively while maintaining quality.
• Flex the operation when required, using agency support for larger events and peak periods.

We are looking for a creative, energetic and customer-focused chef who enjoys working in a fast-paced corporate environment.

You will ideally have:

• Proven experience as a Head Chef or senior kitchen leader within staff dining, workplace catering or contract catering.
• Strong hospitality and event catering experience.
• A passion for fresh, modern and bistro-style food.
• Experience managing and developing a small kitchen team.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, hygiene and kitchen compliance.
• A commercially minded approach, balancing food quality, customer experience and cost control.
• The ability to remain calm, organised and hands-on during busy services.

If you're an ambitious chef looking for a role where you can put your own stamp on the food offer, develop your team and deliver memorable hospitality experiences, we'd love to hear from you.

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/0809/75270001/52757964/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!