Head Chef

RE Personnel; Cheltenham; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days' holiday inclusive of Bank Hol

40-hour, 5-day week

8am-4pm hours (flexible)

Job summary

RE Personnel in Cheltenham is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead a multi-site hospitality operation delivering food for weddings, conferences, banqueting and events. The role requires driving standards, developing a kitchen team and expanding the offering.

You will plan menus, oversee costing and purchasing, maintain HACCP and hygiene standards, and manage staff rosters. A full UK driving licence is essential; hours are typically 8am–4pm with flexibility for events.

Qualifications

• Strong commercial knowledge including menu costing and GP management
• City & Guilds or NVQ qualifications with Level 3 Food Safety
• Excellent knowledge of vegan, vegetarian, allergen and dietary requirements
• Proficient IT skills with Excel and Outlook and computerised function planner
• Full UK driving licence required for multi-site role

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and develop a kitchen team across multiple sites (5–10 staff)
• Plan and deliver menus for weddings, events, banqueting and conferences
• Manage costings, purchasing and GP targets (70–75%)
• Oversee ordering, supplier relationships and stock control
• Create and manage staff rotas to meet site requirements
• Maintain HACCP, hygiene standards and 5-star cleanliness across sites

Skills

Commercial awareness

Menu costing

Allergen/menu planning

IT skills

Driving licence

Education

City & Guilds / NVQ + Level 3 Food Safety

Tools

Excel

Outlook

Function planner (computerised)

Job description

Lead, develop and grow an exciting multi-site hospitality and events operation in Cheltenham.

Our client, a well-established and exciting hospitality operation based in Cheltenham, has an excellent opportunity for an experienced Head Chef to join their team on a full-time, permanent basis. This is a varied, multi-site position with responsibility for delivering exceptional food across weddings, conferences, banqueting, events and day-to-day hospitality, with genuine scope to develop the offering, drive standards and help grow the business.

The successful Head Chef should have:

• Excellent commercial knowledge, including menu costing, GP management, ordering and stock control
• City & Guilds or relevant NVQ qualifications, together with Level 3 Food Safety
• Excellent knowledge of vegan, vegetarian, allergen and dietary requirements
• Good IT skills, including Excel and Outlook, and confidence using a computerised function planner
• A full UK driving licence due to the multi-site nature of the position

In this role, the Head Chef will be responsible for:

• Leading, motivating and developing a kitchen team of approximately 5-10 employees across multiple sites
• Planning and delivering menus for weddings, events, banqueting, conferences and hospitality functions
• Managing menu planning, food costing and purchasing while working towards a 70-75% GP target
• Overseeing ordering, supplier relationships, stock control and monthly stock audits, securing the best possible food costs
• Managing rotas and ensuring staffing levels meet the requirements of the hospitality and events operation
• Maintaining excellent HACCP, food safety and hygiene standards, with responsibility for maintaining 5-star hygiene standards across the sites

Our client is offering the successful Head Chef a salary of up to £42,000, together with 28 days' holiday inclusive of Bank Holidays, a 40-hour, 5-day working week and predominantly 8am-4pm hours, although flexibility will be required according to functions, events and wider business needs. The position has a 6-month probationary period.

As part of the Senior Management Team, this is a fantastic opportunity for a commercially minded, organised and hands-on Head Chef who takes real pride in their food, their team and the standards they deliver. IOSH and COSHH knowledge or qualifications would be advantageous but are not essential.