Head Chef

Sodexo Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing platform

Employee Assistance Programme

24h virtual GP

Sodexo Discounts

Pension Plan

Learning & Development

Bike to Work

Enhanced benefits & leave policies

Job summary

Sodexo is seeking a Head Chef in London to lead a premium corporate kitchen, delivering exceptional food quality and service. You will manage day-to-day operations, develop seasonal menus, and drive profitability while upholding HACCP and safety standards.

You will lead a hands-on team, oversee budgeting, stock control and collaboration with clients to ensure outstanding dining experiences.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef.
• Hands-on contract catering experience within premium corporate catering.
• Level 2 Professional Cookery.
• Level 3 Food Safety.
• Experience managing kitchen budgets and P&L.
• Experience with menu engineering, forecasting and food cost analysis.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day kitchen operation maintaining exceptional standards of food quality, presentation and service.
• Develop innovative, seasonal menus reflecting a premium corporate dining environment.
• Oversee menu planning, recipe development, portion control and menu costing.
• Manage kitchen budgets and accountability for food costs, labour costs, gross profit and wastage.
• Demonstrate leadership to motivate and develop the kitchen brigade; ensure HACCP and food safety compliance.
• Collaborate with catering and hospitality teams to deliver seamless, high-quality dining experiences.

Education

Level 2 Professional Cookery

Level 3 Food Safety

Proven Head Chef experience

Hands-on contract catering experience

Job description

• Opportunities for professional development
• Plus our Sodexo employee benefits package

Head Chef

London, W2 6BD

At Sodexo, we’re passionate about our people.We know that our teams are the key to delivering exceptional service and creating meaningful experiences for our clients, customers, and employees.

As a

Head Chef

, you will take ownership of the day-to-day kitchen operation, ensuring consistently high standards of food quality, presentation, service and customer experience.

You will be a visible, hands-on leader who leads by example, supports the team during service and creates an environment where culinary standards, innovation and professionalism are at the heart of everything you do.

Alongside your culinary responsibilities, you will play a key role in managing the commercial performance of the kitchen. From controlling food and labour costs to overseeing budgets, ordering, stock management and profitability, you will ensure the operation delivers exceptional quality while meeting its financial objectives.

Working closely with the wider catering and hospitality team, you will help create a premium corporate dining experience that reflects the client's expectations and Sodexo's commitment to service excellence.

Ready to make an impact in a premium corporate kitchen?

If you are passionate about food, confident leading a kitchen team and commercially aware, we would love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities':

• Lead the day-to-day kitchen operation, maintaining exceptional standards of food quality, presentation and service.
• Take a hands-on approach to food preparation, cooking and service, setting the standard for the wider kitchen team.
• Develop innovative, seasonal menus that reflect the expectations of a premium corporate dining environment.
• Oversee menu planning, recipe development, portion control and menu costing.
• Manage kitchen budgets and take accountability for financial performance, including food costs, labour costs, gross profit and wastage.
• Demonstrate strong P&L accountability, monitoring performance against budget and identifying opportunities to improve profitability.
• Oversee purchasing, supplier relationships, ordering and stock control to ensure quality, value and availability.
• Manage stock rotation, inventory, forecasting and stocktakes to minimise waste and maintain cost control.
• Lead, motivate and develop the kitchen brigade, promoting a culture of teamwork, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Manage staffing levels, kitchen rotas and labour deployment in line with operational requirements and budget.
• Ensure compliance with food safety legislation, HACCP procedures, allergen controls and company policies.
• Maintain excellent standards of kitchen hygiene, cleanliness and equipment management.
• Build positive working relationships with clients and onsite stakeholders, responding to feedback and continually improving the dining experience.
• Support corporate hospitality, executive dining, meetings, special events and premium evening functions as required.
• Work collaboratively with the wider catering and hospitality team to deliver seamless service and exceptional customer experiences.

What we're looking for:

We are interested in hearing from culinary professionals who have:

• Proven experience as a Head Chef, Executive Chef or an experienced Senior Sous Chef ready to take the next step.

Hands-on contract catering experience, ideally within premium corporate catering, executive dining or high-end hospitality.

• Required qualifications: Level 2 Professional Cookery and Level 3 Food Safety.
• A passion for fresh food, culinary creativity, menu development and outstanding presentation.
• Experience managing kitchen budgets, food costs, labour costs and overall financial performance.

P&L accountability or demonstrable responsibility for kitchen profitability and commercial results.

• Experience managing purchasing, supplier relationships, ordering and stock control.
• A strong understanding of cost control, gross profit, portion management and waste reduction.
• Proven leadership skills, with the ability to motivate, coach and develop a high-performing kitchen team.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to balance culinary delivery with operational and commercial responsibilities.
• A thorough understanding of food safety, HACCP and allergen management.
• Strong communication skills and a professional, client-focused approach.

It would be advantageous if you have:

• Experience in

corporate contract catering or workplace hospitality.

• A relevant professional culinary qualification.
• Food Safety Level 3 or equivalent.
• Experience with menu engineering, financial forecasting and food cost analysis.
• A proven track record of improving profitability, reducing waste and enhancing customer satisfaction.

Why Sodexo?

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it’s a chance tobe part of something greater.

Belong in a company and team that values you foryou.

Act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions.

Thrive in your own way.

We also offer a range of perks, rewards and benefits for our colleagues and their families:

• Unlimited access to an online platform offering wellbeing support
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme to help with everyday issues or life's larger problem s, including legal and financial advice, support with work or personal issues impacting your wellbeing
• Access to a 24hr virtual GP Service
• Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering great deals 24/7 across popular high street retailers (also open to friends and family)
• Save for your future by becoming a member of the Pension Plan
• Opportunities to enable colleagues to grow and succeed throughout their career at Sodexo, including a variety of learning and development tools
• Bike to Work Scheme to help colleagues to do their bit for the environment whilst keeping fit
• Sodexo UK and Irelands enhanced benefits and leave policies

A little more about Sodexo:

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better every day for everyone to build a better life for all. As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100million consumers each day through our unique combination of On-Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services.

We are committed tobeingan inclusive employer. We are a forces friendly employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds and identities. We encourage our employees to get involved with our Employee Networks such as Pride, Sodexo Parents & Carers, Sodexo Disability, Ability network, SoTogether, Generations and Origins.

We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer. We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations. We run a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.

Ready to be part of something greater?

Sodexo reserves the right to close this advert early if we are in receipt of a high number of applications