Head Chef

ESS – Defence, Energy and Government Services; Chippenham; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Career development

Healthcare benefits

Employee discounts

Job summary

Compass Group UK&I is seeking a Head Chef to lead the Buckley Barracks kitchen in Chippenham. You will manage a team, plan high-quality meals for Junior Ranks and the Combined Mess, and ensure efficient operations with strong food safety standards.

You will drive menu planning, cost control, and a positive kitchen culture while working largely Monday to Friday with occasional weekend functions and ample development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Head Chef or senior culinary leader.
• Experience managing kitchen teams.
• Catering qualifications (NVQ/City & Guilds) desirable.
• Strong leadership and organisational skills.
• Sound knowledge of food safety, HACCP, and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate, and develop a kitchen team.
• Plan, prepare, and deliver fresh, nutritious meals for Junior Ranks and Combined Mess personnel.
• Oversee daily kitchen operations, ensuring high standards of food quality and presentation.
• Manage stock, ordering, food costs, and waste reduction initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, hygiene, and health & safety standards.
• Coordinate catering for occasional functions and weekend events.
• Foster a positive, professional, and collaborative kitchen culture.
• Support training and development of civilian and military kitchen staff.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Communication

Organisational skills

HACCP knowledge

Education

NVQ / City & Guilds

Job description

Head Chef - Buckley Barracks, Chippenham

Salary: £36,000 per annum

Location: Buckley Barracks, Chippenham

Hours: 40 hours per week, predominantly Monday to Friday with occasional weekend functions

Bring your passion, creativity, and leadership to Compass Group, where you'll play a key role in delivering fresh, nutritious, high-quality food to Junior Ranks and the Combined Mess at Buckley Barracks. As Head Chef, you’ll take full ownership of a busy military kitchen, lead and develop a dedicated team, and create a positive environment where exceptional food and teamwork are at the heart of everything you do.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the culinary offering on site, build a strong kitchen culture, and make a real impact in a role that offers excellent work-life balance with mainly Monday to Friday hours.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead, motivate, and develop a kitchen team comprising a Sous Chef, two Chef de Parties, and military chefs
• Plan, prepare, and deliver fresh, nutritious, high-quality meals for Junior Ranks and Combined Mess personnel
• Oversee daily kitchen operations, ensuring consistently high standards of food quality and presentation
• Manage stock control, ordering, food costs, and waste reduction initiatives
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, hygiene, and health & safety standards
• Coordinate catering requirements for occasional functions and special events, including some weekend support
• Drive a positive, professional, and collaborative kitchen culture
• Support training and development of both civilian and military kitchen team members

About You

You're an experienced Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef ready to take ownership of a busy catering operation. You lead by example, remain calm under pressure, and have a genuine passion for developing teams and delivering outstanding food.

You’ll Bring

• Proven experience as a Head Chef or in a senior culinary leadership role
• Relevant catering qualifications (NVQ, City & Guilds, or equivalent desirable)
• Experience managing and developing kitchen teams
• Strong leadership, communication, and organisational skills
• Sound knowledge of food safety, HACCP, and compliance requirements
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• A passion for producing fresh, high-quality food and exceptional customer experiences
• Flexibility to support occasional weekend functions when required

What We Offer

• Competitive salary of £36,000 per annum
• Predominantly Monday to Friday working pattern
• Opportunities for career development within Compass Group
• A supportive team environment
• The chance to lead a key catering operation within the Defence sector

Benefits

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

Part of Compass Group UK&I, ESS is the Defence, Government, and Energy services sector of Compass Group UK & Ireland. We support 250+ UK military establishments, high profile police, secure environments and government sites, along with a range of onshore and offshore facilities including platforms, drilling rigs, floatels and offices for the energy sector. We know that a friendly face makes all the difference, so we look for people who are passionate about delivering excellent customer service, at all levels, to join our teams.

Job Reference: com/1108/95662001/52484873/SU #Defence

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!