Head Chef

Wellington College

Buckler's Park

On-site

GBP 65,000 - 90,000

Full time

3 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Meals on duty

Free onsite parking

Mercer Aspire Pension Plan

Learning and development opportunities

Job summary

We are seeking a confident, resilient Head Chef to lead Sodexo’s flagship core feeding operation at Wellington College, the UK’s prestigious independent school. You will drive culinary excellence, scale, and a high-performance culture, delivering exceptional dining for students, staff and visitors.

You will manage a large kitchen brigade, partner with stakeholders, and lead innovation in menu development, sustainability, and service standards, in a dynamic education setting.

Qualifications

Experience as Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef in a large-scale catering environment.
Strong fine dining or premium hospitality background.
Proven leadership with ability to challenge and inspire teams.
Creative, innovative approach to food, presentation and service.

Responsibilities

Leading, developing, and inspiring a high-performing kitchen brigade.
Driving operational excellence across all meal services.
Delegating responsibilities across Shift Leaders and the wider team.
Workforce planning, rosta creation, and daily coordination.
Managing ordering, stock control, supplier management and costs.
Maintaining budgetary performance while delivering quality at scale.
Ensuring maintenance and equipment readiness.
Leading recruitment, training and performance management.
Upholding food safety, health & safety, and compliance standards.

Skills

Head Chef experience

High-volume catering

Leadership

Budgeting & cost control

Food presentation

IT literacy & numeracy

Recruitment & training

Education

NVQ/City & Guilds Professional Cookery Level 2 or 3

Level 3 Food Safety Certificate

Intermediate Food Hygiene Certificate

Intermediate Managing Safely

Job description

At Sodexo, we believe in delivering exceptional dining experiences, fostering meaningful relationships, and empowering our teams to thrive. We are seeking a passionate and inspirational Head Chef to lead our Core Feeding operation at the prestigious Wellington College., As Head Chef, you will be part of this exceptional community-helping to fuel academic performance, elite sport, and creative excellence across the entire school. The Operation This is a large-scale, high-performing catering operation delivering:

Approximately 600 breakfasts daily
Approximately 1,900 lunches daily
Approximately 800 evening meals daily

You will hold full responsibility for student and staff dining across the College, ensuring food is nutritious, innovative, beautifully presented, and delivered consistently at scale. Nutrition is a critical part of performance at Wellington College. From elite athletes in rugby, cricket, and football, to students excelling in music, drama, and the arts, you will understand how dietary needs vary and ensure the food offer supports physical performance, focus, and wellbeing.

What You’ll be Doing

You will lead a large and structured kitchen brigade with four Shift Leaders covering:

Pastry Production
Breakfast Service
Lunch Service
Evening Dining Operations

These teams are supported by approximately 15+ culinary staff, including Chef de Parties and kitchen assistants. Key responsibilities include:

Leading, developing, and inspiring a high-performing kitchen brigade
Driving operational excellence across all meal services
Delegating responsibility effectively across Shift Leaders and the wider team
Workforce planning, rota creation, and daily operational coordination
Ordering, stock control, supplier management, and cost control
Maintaining strong budgetary performance while delivering high-quality food at scale
Ensuring planned maintenance, equipment standards, and kitchen readiness
Leading recruitment, training, development, and performance management
Embedding strong food safety, health & safety, and compliance standards
Acting as a visible, approachable leader across dining halls and service areas
Building strong relationships with students, Housemasters, teaching staff, and senior stakeholders
Engaging daily in the dining environment to gather feedback and enhance the student experience
Driving innovation, sustainability, and continuous improvement across the operation

We are looking for a strong, confident, innovative and resilient culinary leader who thrives in high-volume, high-expectation environments, and who can bring genuine professional fine dining and prestigious hospitality experience into a large-scale operation.

The ideal candidate will have a background in high volume quality catering, alongside the ability to translate that standard of excellence into a large, fast-paced school setting. You will bring

Experience as a Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef in a large-scale catering environment
A strong fine dining or premium hospitality background, ideally within reputable, high-standard establishments
Strong leadership skills with the ability to challenge, influence, and inspire
A creative, innovative approach to food, presentation, and service standards
The confidence to challenge both peers and senior stakeholders, with strong people management skills where required
A supportive team member who drives collective success and continuous improvement
Proven ability to deliver consistent, high-quality food at scale
Strong financial acumen including budgeting, food cost control, and labour management
Experience managing rota systems, team structures, and operational delivery
Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail
A proactive, approachable leadership style with strong communication skills
Passion for delivering elevated, restaurant-quality dining experiences within a premium institutional setting
Strong IT, literacy, and numeracy skills, NVQ or City & Guilds Professional Cookery Level 2 or 3 (or equivalent)
Level 3 Food Safety Certificate
Intermediate Food Hygiene Certificate
Intermediate Managing Safely qualification
Experience within independent schools or premium education catering environments
Background in luxury hospitality, multi-outlet or high-end, large contract catering operations
Passion for sustainability, ethical sourcing, and modern food culture
Experience contributing to culinary development, innovation projects, or menu-led transformation programmes

At Sodexo, we believe in delivering exceptional dining experiences, fostering meaningful relationships, and empowering our teams to thrive.

We are seeking a confident, resilient, and inspirational Head Chef to lead our flagship core feeding operation at Wellington College, one of the UK's most prestigious independent schools. This is a career-defining leadership role within a high-volume, high-profile environment, responsible for shaping the daily dining experience of students, teaching staff, and the wider College community. Working closely with the Executive Head Chef, you will act as a key operational leader and "helping hand" across a busy and fast-evolving site-driving standards, innovation, and team performance.

About Wellington College

Set within approximately 400 acres of stunning Berkshire countryside, Wellington College is one of the UK's leading independent schools, renowned for academic excellence, sporting achievement, and a rich co-curricular programme. The College offers a unique environment where tradition meets modern excellence. From world-class sporting facilities to outstanding academic and creative provision, Wellington provides space to breathe, think, and perform at the highest level. School life is vibrant and distinctive, with traditions such as chapel services and Combined Cadet Force (CCF) parades featuring drums and marching routines that reflect the rhythm and heritage of the College.

This is more than a Head Chef role-it is an opportunity to lead culinary excellence within one of the UK's most prestigious independent schools. You will benefit from:

Competitive salary and excellent benefits package
Career progression within Sodexo's premium education portfolio
Industry-leading training and development opportunities
A flagship working environment with a high-performing team culture
The ability to directly impact the daily experience of over 2,000 students and staff
A supportive and forward-thinking organisation
Access to Crowthorne train station
Free onsite parking
Meals on duty

Additional Benefits