Head Chef

University of Exeter; Clyst Honiton; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A top UK university is looking for an experienced Head Chef to lead and inspire culinary operations across their campuses. You will oversee menu development, maintain culinary standards, and deliver high-quality events. The role requires strong leadership and creativity to enhance the dining experience for students and staff. This is a full time, permanent opportunity available from March 2026, offering a vibrant work environment in a prestigious institution.

Benefits

41 days leave per year

Options for flexible working

Discounts at leading retailers

Onsite gyms

Cycle to work scheme

Sector leading maternity and paternity leave policies

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Head Chef or similar role.
• Strong leadership and organizational skills.
• Ability to develop innovative and seasonal menus.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality special events and bespoke menus.
• Lead menu development and ensure innovative offerings.
• Provide training and development for culinary teams.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Menu development

Food safety management

Training and mentorship

Event management

Job description

Head Chef, Commercial Operations

The above role is available on a full time, permanent basis from March 2026.

We are looking for an experienced and creative Head Chef to lead and inspire our in-house culinary operation across the University of Exeter’s Streatham and St Luke’s Campuses. This role will focus on maintaining and developing a contemporary, on-trend food offer, ensuring our services remain current, engaging and aligned with the expectations of our diverse community.

As Head Chef, you will play a central role in shaping the future of our food service by coordinating culinary functions across multiple venues and contributing significantly to the experience of students, staff and visitors.

Key Responsibilities

• Delivering high-quality special events, bespoke menus and hospitality services.
• Leading on menu development and ensuring our food offer remains innovative, seasonal and commercially effective.
• Providing training, development and mentorship for our culinary teams, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
• Monitoring and maintaining culinary standards, consistency and presentation across all outlets.
• Ensuring full compliance with University of Exeter procedures and systems, including food safety, allergen management and operational processes.
• The opportunity to represent the University through competitions, demonstrations and presentations, showcasing our commitment to culinary excellence.

This is an outstanding opportunity for a dynamic culinary leader to help to elevate our in-house services, shape the future of campus dining, and make a lasting impact within a vibrant university community.

About the University

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024). We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.

Our world-leading research impact has grown more than any other Russell Group university in recent years, and we are home some of the world’s most influential researchers, seeking to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today. More than 99 percent of our research is of international quality and 47 percent is world-leading (2021 Research Excellence Framework).

We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.

Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented within our working community.

With over 30,000 students and 7,000 staff from 150 different countries we offer a diverse and engaging environment where our diversity is celebrated and valued as a major strength. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where all members of our community are supported to thrive; where diverse voices are heard through our engagement with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark), LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion) and as a Disability Confident employer.

We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from service people.

Benefits

• 41 days leave per year
• options for flexible working
• numerous discounts at leading retailers
• onsite gyms on all of our campus’ and a cycle to work scheme
• sector leading policies around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay) and a Fertility Treatment Policy
• stunning campus environments in Exeter and Cornwall, in the beautiful South West of England

For further information, please contact Richard Narramore, Email [e-mail] Tel. [phone]