Head Chef

Newham College; Greater London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An established institution is seeking a dynamic Head Chef to lead kitchen operations and ensure high-quality catering services. This role involves driving culinary excellence, overseeing food safety standards, and developing kitchen staff. With a strong commitment to vocational education, the college provides a supportive environment for innovation and skill development. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in kitchen leadership, a passion for food quality, and a proactive approach to team management. Join this forward-thinking college and make a significant impact on student experiences through exceptional culinary services.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a Head Chef or senior kitchen leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of health & safety and food hygiene regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen team in food preparation and service delivery.
• Manage stock control and wastage reduction strategies.

Skills

Team Management

Menu Planning

Cost Control

Food Safety Regulations

Communication Skills

Education

Catering Qualifications

Food Hygiene Certification

Job description

About Newham College:

Newham College stands as London’s leading and most successful institution for vocational education, consistently recognized for excellence. For five consecutive years, the Department for Education has named Newham College the top-performing large Further Education (FE) college in the area.

As the first college to receive Ofsted’s kitemark for business collaboration, Newham College is celebrated for creating a clear route from study to employment. Partnering with the government and the Mayor of London, Newham College plays a key role in delivering critical skills initiatives like the London City Institute of Technology in Canning Town, the Mayoral Sector Skills Academies, and the Health Futures partnership with Barts NHS Trust in Stratford. With over £50 million in government and Mayoral funding, the college has developed state-of-the-art facilities for its students.

The Role.

Newham College is look for a dynamic and experienced Head Chef to lead our kitchen operations and work closely with the Catering Manager to ensure the delivery of high-quality catering services across the College. This is a key role within our catering team, responsible for driving culinary excellence, upholding food safety standards, and supporting the development and training of kitchen staff.

Key responsibilities;

• Lead the kitchen team in all aspects of food preparation, procurement, and service delivery.
• Collaborate with the Catering Manager on menu development, costing, and execution.
• Ensure all meals are prepared to a high standard and in line with College policies and legal requirements.
• Oversee health & safety, HACCP compliance, allergen reporting, and hygiene standards throughout kitchen operations.
• Organise and deliver catering for hospitality functions and College events.
• Manage stock control, ordering, and wastage reduction strategies to meet budgetary targets.
• Train and supervise chefs and catering staff, conducting regular performance reviews.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and secure working environment, ensuring all equipment is used and maintained correctly.
• Deputise for the Kitchen Supervisor as required and provide flexible support across all College sites.

Our Ideal candidate should have the following qualifications, skills and experience.

• Proven experience in a Head Chef or senior kitchen leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of health & safety, food hygiene regulations, and allergen compliance.
• Demonstrable skills in team management, menu planning, and cost control.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills with a proactive and professional approach.
• Passion for food quality, presentation, and customer satisfaction.
• Relevant catering qualifications and food hygiene certification.

Safeguarding of Children and Vulnerable Adults

In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education All employment offers are subject employment checks. These include (some of which are dependent on the role and the individual): Enhanced DBS including Children’s Barred Listcheck, DfE teaching/management Barred List check, on-line searches, overseas criminal record check, evidence of identity and Right to Work in the UK, satisfactory references, confirmation of medical fitness, evidence of relevant qualifications and a check of previous employment history.

The College is committed to safeguarding and promotes the welfare of all learners and expects its staff to share this commitment. You will be required to become familiar with the College's policies, and comply with the requirements to safeguard and protect the welfare of children and young people and vulnerable adults.All staff are asked to complete mandatory training in relation to KCSIE and other key areas, and to read the relevant policies.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The College has a strong commitment to working towards the implementation of equality of opportunity in both service delivery and employment. The College’s mission and strategic objectives directly support this aim. All employees are required to actively support the development, dissemination and implementation of this aim and related policies and programmes.

Recruitment Process

The email account you use to apply will be used for all recruitment communication.Please ensure that you use an email account that you regularly monitor.

All application forms must be fully completed, including a full record of education and employment history. Incomplete applications will not be considered for shortlisting.

The salary for this position is inclusive of London weighting. Please note that it is Newham College’s policy to offer all roles at the entry point of the salary scale advertised. However, based on your qualifications and experience, we may offer a higher starting salary within the specified salary range.

We regret that we are unable to respond to every application. Therefore, if you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has not been successful.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early, should we receive sufficient applications.

**Please note that we do not accept CVs**

Closing Date: 14th May

Interview Date: Week commencing 26th May 2025