Head Chef

Restaurant Associates; Greater London; On-site; GBP 44,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading contract catering company in Uxbridge seeks a Head Chef to lead a new culinary site. The ideal candidate should have experience in fine dining, team leadership, and launching culinary operations. Responsibilities include menu development and managing kitchen standards. Competitive salary with benefits and career development opportunities available.

Benefits

Free meals

Onsite car parking

Subsidised gym membership

Contributory pension scheme

Career development programmes

Digital GP access

Travel discounts

Food shop discounts

Cinema ticket discounts

Cash rewards

Wellness classes

Qualifications

• Experience in launching new culinary operations.
• Ability to recruit, train, and inspire a kitchen team.
• Experience in managing kitchen budgets and supplier relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead the culinary setup of the new site.
• Develop and implement a distinctive seasonal fine dining menu.
• Ensure flawless plated service with attention to detail.

Skills

Proven experience as a Head Chef in high-end restaurants

Strong background in plated service and fine dining techniques

Inspirational leader with excellent communication skills

Passionate about innovation and sustainability

Job description

Overview

Head Chef - Exciting New Contract Catering Launch - Uxbridge
£43,270 per annum | 40 hours per week | Monday to Friday

About the Role

Are you a visionary culinary leader ready to shape the food identity of a prestigious new contract catering site at a global headquarters in Uxbridge? This is a rare opportunity to lead the culinary launch of a brand-new location, delivering an elevated plated service that blends fine dining, modern restaurant flair, and theatrical presentation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the culinary setup of the new site including kitchen design input and equipment specification
• Develop and implement a distinctive, seasonal fine dining menu
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders to align food concepts with brand values and client expectations
• Recruit, train, and inspire a passionate kitchen brigade, fostering a culture of excellence and innovation
• Implement structured training and development plans to grow internal talent
• Ensure flawless plated service with attention to detail and guest experience
• Maintain rigorous food safety, hygiene, and compliance standards
• Manage kitchen budgets, stock control, and supplier relationships efficiently
• Act as a culinary ambassador through client and guest engagement, delivering live cooking and theatrical dining experiences

Ideal Candidate

• Proven experience as a Head Chef in high-end restaurants, luxury hotels, or premium contract catering
• Strong background in plated service and fine dining techniques
• Experience in site mobilisation or launching new culinary operations
• Inspirational leader with excellent communication and team-building skills
• Passionate about innovation, sustainability, and delivering memorable food experiences

Benefits

• Free meals
• Onsite free car parking
• Subsidised gym membership
• 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
• Unwind 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.

Job Reference: com/1609/67853001/52762992/SU #RA Group

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!