Head Chef

Aramark Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free parking on-site

Employee Benefits app

Life assurance

Pension contributions

Generous holiday entitlement

Apprenticeship schemes

Job summary

Aramark UK is recruiting a Head Chef to lead the Craft Kitchen at Northwood HQ. The role focuses on creative, high-quality food production, cost control, and menu development within budget.

You will train and manage kitchen staff, ensure consistent quality, and drive operational excellence in a busy hospitality setting. Applicants must have UK residency for 3+ years, a legal right to work in the UK, and a Clean Enhanced DBS.

Qualifications

• NVQ Levels 1 & 2 in culinary skills required.
• Experience in a similar defence environment.
• Clean Enhanced DBS.
• Legal right to work in the UK and residency in the UK for past 3 years.

Responsibilities

• Lead culinary and kitchen staff to use standard methods and ensure quality of final presentation.
• Develop cost-efficient menus and production plans within budgets.
• Oversee end-to-end supply chain and procurement processes.
• Train staff on procedures, new equipment, and safety practices.
• Maintain records, shift checklists, and compliance with company policies.

Skills

Team leadership

Budget/cost control

Food production

Menu development

Staff training

Procurement

Education

NVQ Levels 1 & 2 in culinary skills

Job description

Aramark UK are currently recruiting a Head Chef to join our team working in Northwood HQ. We are recruiting a lead for Craft Kitchen @ Northwood HQ, A busy restaurant that includes a front of house street food counter, deli bar & coffee shop. This role allows the team to have creativity and flare. With the opening hours Monday - Friday for breakfast and lunch, this position is fantastic for the perfect work life balance. You will be responsible for the kitchen operation, cost efficiency and production of innovative quality food/menus in line with agreed budgets to improve sales. A day in the life of a Head Chef: Training and leading culinary and kitchen employees to use standard methodology food production technique and ensure quality in final presentation of food. Identifying the training needs of staff and carrying out relevant training in new procedures, methods of working or use of new equipment and cleaning products. Implementing any new company policy decisions and training staff accordingly. Maintaining all staff records including training records, shift opening/closing checklists and performance data. Computer literate. Multi-tasking as well as ability to simplify the agenda for the team is essential. Capability to develop innovative solutions in the most financially efficient way possible. Develops and maintains effective client and customer rapport for mutually beneficial business relationship. Aggregates and communicates regional culinary and ingredient trends. Empowers team to deliver excellence in customer service. Investigates concerns and respond to needs relating to the catering service and takes corrective action. Full compliance with Operational Excellence fundamentals: managing waste, standard menus, recipes and ingredients through handling customer driven menus and labour standards. Understands end to end supply chain and procurement process and systems, ensures only authorised suppliers are used.

To be eligible for this role, due to the sector requirements: you must have been a UK resident for the past 3 years and have legal right to work in the UK and be able to pass full security vetting and DBS checks. NVQ Levels 1 & 2 in culinary skills. Clean Enhanced DBS. Experience in a similar defence environment. Can do attitude with a willingness to learn. Proactive in attitude. Lived in UK for the past 3 years and have legal right to work in the UK and be able to pass full security vetting check.

This is a full-time position, 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday. Shift between 0600-1600 leaving your evenings free - a rarity when you work within culinary/hospitality.

• Annual Salary: £39947.47
• Free parking on-site.
• You will have access to our Employee Benefits app - which includes online GP access, 100's of discounts, including savings on your weekly supermarket shop and weekend treats.
• We also offer a company package including life assurance, pension contributions, generous holiday entitlement with the option to buy more, and many more benefits.
• We also offer apprenticeship schemes, so that your learning journey can continue.

You will also be joining a talented team, with fabulous career prospects and could lead to all sorts of opportunities - we LOVE to promote from within. We are passionate about developing our people and over training and development.