Head Chef

Restaurant Associates UK; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading hospitality provider is seeking a Head Chef for their Relief Chef Team, aimed at providing support across London's diverse culinary environments. The ideal candidate will be adaptable, calm under pressure, and a strong communicator, equipped with experience in both casual and high-end dining settings. Competitive salary starting at £52,000, plus benefits including a pension scheme, healthcare access, and exclusive discounts. Join us to make an impact on our culinary operations while thriving in your career.

Benefits

Contributory pension scheme

Career advancement opportunities

Healthcare benefits

Travel discounts

Grocery discounts

Cinema ticket discounts

Cash rewards program

Wellness classes

Qualifications

• Experience in a previous relief chef role or current Head Chef role.
• Ability to quickly assess new environments and adapt accordingly.
• Experience in both casual and high-end dining settings.

Responsibilities

• Provide chef cover Monday to Friday, with some evenings and weekends.
• Travel across London to support different sites as needed.
• Help mobilize new contracts and support teams during transitions.

Skills

Adaptability

Strong communication

Leadership

Calm under pressure

Job description

Head Chef – Relief Team

£52,000 + overtime

Are you an adaptable, confident chef who thrives on variety and loves stepping into new environments? We’re looking for a Head Chef to join our existing Relief Chef Team to support our operations across London, playing a key role in mobilising contracts, boosting team morale, and ensuring exceptional food standards wherever you go!

What You’ll Be Doing

• Providing chef cover Monday to Friday, with some evenings when required and occasional weekends. Overtime included.
• Travelling across London and occasionally beyond to support different sites
• Acting as a key player in mobilising new contracts and helping teams settle into new operations
• Comfortable in delivering great food in staff dining settings as well as high end hospitality
• Working with brigades of all sizes – from small teams to large-scale operations
• Bringing energy and optimism to sites that need a boost, helping turn challenges into success
• Stepping in as part of the kitchen team – or taking the lead when needed
• Attending supplier visits, tastings, and industry forums to stay ahead of trends and build relationships
• Bringing energy, professionalism and flexibility to every site you support

Who We’re Looking For

You’re someone who enjoys the unknown and welcomes each day as a fresh start. You will need to be :

Adaptable & resilient – able to walk into a new environment and quickly assess what’s needed

Calm under pressure – confident tackling challenging sites or situations

A strong communicator – able to build rapport fast with both teams and clients

A team player & a leader – comfortable supporting others or taking charge

Experienced – either in a previous relief chef role or current Head Chef role and keen to broaden your experience across multiple sites.

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

Restaurant Associates provides brilliant hospitality through our food, drink and services. We work with our partners and collaborate with our clients to achieve great things together. Every day, our teams of passionate hospitality professionals strive for excellence in delivering employee dining and hospitality to some of the UK's leading workplace as well as inspiring exceptional experiences in iconic cultural and heritage destinations.

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!