Head Chef

HJE; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

27 days annual leave

Blue Light Card discounts

Interest-free season ticket loans

Cycle to work scheme

Eye check-up vouchers

Newspaper & media discounts

Local business discounts

Hospice charity shop discount

Refer a friend

Cinema society membership

Training & development

Events & recognition

Career progression

Job summary

The Hospital of St John & St Elizabeth in London is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead the Catering Department, delivering high‑quality, nutritious meals for patients and staff. You will manage a kitchen team, budget, ensure food safety and regulatory compliance, and drive continuous improvement across services.

In this role you will develop menus, lead on patient dining standards, control costs, and foster a positive, high‑performing culture while collaborating with dietitians and

Qualifications

• Level 3 NVQ Catering or formal chef qualification.
• HACCP Level 2 qualification.
• Knowledge of COSHH, Health & Safety, food safety and hygiene regulations.

Responsibilities

• Culinary leadership across all kitchen operations.
• Menu development aligned with nutritional guidelines and patient needs.
• Patient dining excellence in collaboration with dietitians and clinical teams.
• Team leadership, training and staff development.
• Food cost control including stock, ordering, suppliers and budgets.
• Safety & compliance with HACCP and regulatory standards.
• Continuous improvement and audits across catering services.

Skills

Kitchen management

Staff leadership

Healthcare catering

Food safety compliance

Menu development

Large groups catering

IT literacy

Leadership

Education

Level 3 NVQ Catering

HACCP Level 2

Tools

Microsoft Office

Kitchen management systems

Job description

The Hospital of St John & St Elizabeth is one of the UK’s leading private hospitals, renowned for exceptional patient care and a warm, welcoming environment. Our Catering Department plays a vital role in supporting patient wellbeing, delivering outstanding food that meets clinical, nutritional, and hospitality standards.

We are now seeking an experienced and inspiring Head Chef to lead our kitchen operations and elevate our culinary offering across the hospital. The Head Chef will oversee all kitchen operations, ensuring the delivery of high‑quality, nutritious meals for patients, staff, and visitors. You will lead a dedicated kitchen team, manage budgets, maintain compliance with food safety and healthcare regulations, and drive continuous improvement across all catering services.

Located in leafy St John’s Wood on the Jubilee line, minutes from Central London, our independent private Hospital has just been rated the number one in the country for care in the latest Bupa survey. Uniquely, all profits fund our onsite Hospice, St John’s.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Culinary leadership — Maintain exceptional standards in food preparation, presentation, and service.
• Menu development — Create menus aligned with nutritional guidelines, patient needs, allergens, and cultural requirements.
• Patient dining excellence — Work with dietitians and clinical teams to support patient recovery and wellbeing.
• Team leadership — Lead, train, and develop the kitchen brigade, ensuring a positive and high‑performing culture.
• Food cost control — Manage stock, ordering, suppliers, and budgets to maximise efficiency and minimise waste.
• Safety & compliance — Ensure full compliance with HACCP, infection control, allergen management, and all regulatory standards.
• Continuous improvement — Innovate menus, enhance service quality, and support audits and inspections.

What We’re Looking For

• Level 3 NVQ Catering or formal chef qualification
• HACCP Level 2
• Knowledge of COSHH, Health & Safety, food safety and hygiene regulations
• Experience managing a professional kitchen
• Experience working in a healthcare setting
• Minimum 3 years as a Chef, including 2 years managing staff
• Ability to cater for large groups and varied dietary needs
• IT literacy (Microsoft Office, kitchen management systems)
• Strong leadership and team‑management capability

Why apply for this role?

At our organisation we are passionate about providing our employees with a supportive and engaging environment. As well as ongoing development and training, we offer our employees a wide range of benefits;

When you become part of the HJE Family, these are some of the benefits you will receive:

• Private healthcare scheme worth up to £20,000 per year
• 27 days annual leave
• Blue Light Card discounts
• Interest‑free season ticket loans
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free eye check‑up vouchers with contribution towards lenses
• Free newspaper and media subscriptions
• Local Business discounts
• Discount in our Hospice Charity shop
• Refer a Friend scheme
• Free Cinema Society Membership offering discounted tickets
• Personal development and training courses
• Annual events and recognition awards
• Career progression and increments

If you are ready for a new challenge and relish the chance to become part of a successful, forward thinking organisation then we would love to hear from you.