Head Chef

Sodexo; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Sodexo seeks a talented Head Chef to oversee culinary operations at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. This role demands creativity and leadership, where you will innovate menus and ensure operational excellence while promoting sustainability. Join an award-winning team focused on enriching the guest experience through exceptional food and service.

Benefits

Employee networks for diversity and support

Qualifications

• Proven experience in head chef or senior sous chef role.
• Strong knowledge of financial management including budgeting.
• Passion for sustainability and innovative, produce-led menus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen team across multiple outlets and events.
• Innovate menus with seasonal and sustainable ingredients.
• Ensure compliance with food safety and health standards.

Skills

Leadership

Creativity

Sustainability

Financial Management

Education

Experience as Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef

Job description

Job Description

• Job Title: Head Chef
• Location: Edinburgh
• £38,000.
• 40 Hours 5 days over 7

Job Introduction

We are looking for a talented and innovative Head Chef to lead culinary operations across one of Edinburgh's most iconic locations - the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. This is a rare opportunity to bring your passion for food, sustainability, and leadership into a stunning, purpose-driven setting. From the vibrant John Hope Gateway Café to elegant events in the Arboretum Suite, your creativity and precision will shape memorable experiences for every guest.

Heritage Portfolio is proud to deliver exceptional service at some of the UK's most celebrated venues. Now, we're looking for a chef ready to leave a lasting mark on a unique and growing operation.

What You'll Do:

• Lead the Kitchen Team across multiple outlets including cafés, mobile units, and high-profile events - mentoring, motivating, and developing staff to deliver excellence.
• Innovate Menus using seasonal and sustainable ingredients, collaborating directly with the gardening team to reflect the garden's produce in every dish.
• Ensure Operational Excellence, maintaining compliance with food safety and health standards while managing stock, COS (target: 23%), and labour costs (target: 22%).
• Drive Sustainable Initiatives, championing carbon reduction and sustainable eating through smart sourcing and inventive culinary thinking.
• Plan and Execute Events such as Botanics Lates and Christmas at the Botanics, with full creative and operational control.
• Grow the Business by identifying new revenue opportunities through ticketed events, experiences, and seasonal offerings.

What You Bring:

• Proven experience as a Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef, ideally across both retail café and plated service environments.
• A passion for sustainability and innovation in food, with the creativity to develop inspiring, produce-led menus.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills, with a track record of developing high-performing teams.
• Strong knowledge of financial management, including menu costing, budgeting, and achieving cost targets.
• A commitment to exceptional standards, with knowledge of food hygiene, safety, and compliance best practices.
• High levels of personal presentation, attention to detail, and the ability to thrive in a hands-on, fast-paced environment.

Join Heritage Portfolio and Sodexo Live!for a fulfilling career where your individuality is celebrated, your impact is valued, and your development is supported. We're more than a team - we're a community of experience makers.

Be part of a forward thinking organisation where Never Standing Still is more than a motto - it's how we thrive. Apply now and take the next step in your operations career.

Are you ready to make your mark in one of Scotland's most beautiful venues?
Apply now and be part of an award-winning team building a sustainable, exciting future for food at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

Sodexo reserves the right to close this advertisement early if we are in receipt of a high volume of applications.

About Sodexo

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better every day for everyone to build a better life for all.As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100 million consumers each day through our unique combination of On-Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer. We are a forces friendly employer.We welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds, and identities.We encourage our employees to get involved with our Employee Networks such as Pride, Sodexo Parents & Carers, Sodexo Disability, Ability network, So Together, Generations and Origins.

Sodexo Disability, Ability network, So Together, Generations and Origins.

We're a Disability Confident Leader employer.We're committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations.

Click here to read more about what we do to promote an inclusive culture.