Head Chef

Restaurant Associates UK; Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Healthcare benefits

Travel discounts

Cinema tickets

Cash rewards

Wellness programs

Job summary

Restaurant Associates UK in London is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead the kitchen across restaurant, pantry service, hospitality and events. You’ll own food production, menus and cost control while inspiring a high-performing team to deliver fresh, seasonal dishes with outstanding quality and consistency.

The role requires a visible leadership presence, strong hospitality ethos and the ability to manage client relationships and ensure operational efficiency and safety during service.

Qualifications

• Establishing leadership in a high-quality hospitality kitchen.
• Experience in contract catering or corporate hospitality preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and develop the kitchen team.
• Oversee food production across restaurant, pantry, hospitality and events.
• Create fresh, seasonal menus and manage food costs and stock.
• Ensure high standards of quality, presentation and safety.

Job description

Location: London

Salary: £50,000 per annum

We’re looking for an experienced, creative and hands-on Head Chef to lead the kitchen within a high-quality corporate hospitality operation in London. You’ll take ownership of food production across the whole operation, including the restaurant, pantry service, hospitality and events. Leading from the front, you’ll inspire the kitchen team to deliver fresh, seasonal food while maintaining excellent standards of quality, presentation and consistency. This is a varied role combining kitchen leadership, menu development, commercial management and client engagement. You’ll work closely with the General Manager to deliver an outstanding food experience and ensure the operation runs efficiently, safely and successfully.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and develop the kitchen team
• Oversee food production across the restaurant, pantry, hospitality and events
• Create fresh, seasonal and engaging menus
• Maintain consistently high standards of food quality and presentation
• Manage food costs, stock levels, ordering, labour and waste
• Ensure the kitchen is organised, fully prepared and ready for service
• Build positive relationships with clients, suppliers and the wider site team
• Maintain full compliance with food safety, allergen, hygiene and health and safety procedures
• Support training, performance management and team development
• Respond confidently to changing requirements and special dietary requests
• Identify opportunities to improve quality, efficiency and the overall customer experience

About You

You’ll be an established Head Chef or experienced Senior Sous Chef with a strong background in high-quality hospitality, restaurants or contract catering. A confident and supportive leader, you’ll be commercially aware, highly organised and passionate about developing both food and people. You’ll enjoy being present in the kitchen, leading by example and working alongside your team during service. If you’re a talented Head Chef looking to take ownership of an exciting London operation, we’d love to hear from you.

Benefits

We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

• 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
• Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
• You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families