Head Chef

Sodexo; Haywards Heath; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mental health resources

Employee Assistance Programme

Free wellbeing app and GP access

Discounts on high street brands

Retirement savings plan

Full training and protective uniform

Cycle to Work scheme

Flexible working

Competitive pay

Job summary

Head Chef opportunity at Sodexo within Nuffield Health Hospital Haywards Heath. Lead a busy kitchen, directing a team of around 12 colleagues to deliver high-quality meals for patients, visitors and staff, while upholding food safety standards.

You'll manage food costs, stock, rotas and ensure compliance with HACCP and healthcare catering requirements, maintaining exceptional patient and customer satisfaction in a challenging, rewarding environment.

Qualifications

• Previous experience as Head Chef or in a similar senior culinary role
• Healthcare catering experience
• Strong leadership and people management skills
• Excellent culinary and food presentation skills
• Good financial and commercial awareness
• City & Guilds 706/1 & 706/2 or equivalent qualification
• Level 3 Food Hygiene qualification
• Good IT and administrative skills

Responsibilities

• Leading, motivating, and developing the kitchen team
• Managing the daily operation of the kitchen and associated areas
• Preparing and delivering high-quality meals for patients, staff, visitors, and hospitality functions
• Managing food costs, stock levels, and kitchen budgets
• Ensuring all food is prepared in accordance with recipes, specifications, and dietary requirements
• Organising staff rotas to meet operational needs
• Driving exceptional patient and customer satisfaction levels
• Maintaining HACCP, food safety, and hygiene compliance at all times
• Managing stock ordering, receiving, storage, stock rotation, and stocktaking
• Recruiting, training, and developing team members
• Supporting audits and ensuring compliance with company, client, and legislative requirements
• Deputising for the Client Services Manager when required

Skills

Leadership

Healthcare catering

Food safety

Budget management

Stock control

Menu planning

Patient dining services

Team leadership

Education

City & Guilds 706/1

706/2 or equivalent

Level 3 Food Hygiene

Job description

Head Chef

Healthy outcomes start with positive patient experiences.

• 37.5 hrs pw 5/7 to include weekends
• shifts include 0700-1500,1100-1900, 0700-1900 , 0700-1300
• £16.40 per hour + great benefits
• Nuffield Hospital Haywards Heath, Burrell Road
• On site Parking, Free meals when working more than 6 hours

Check your local transport links here: Plan Your Journey | Traveline - the destination you should input is: RH16 1UD

Please take the time to read the attached job description

Job Introduction

Lead with passion. Inspire your team. Make a difference every day..

At Sodexo, we believe that quality food plays a vital role in wellbeing and recovery. We're looking for an experienced and passionate Head Chef to lead our catering operation within a busy Nuffield Health hospital, delivering exceptional dining experiences for patients, visitors, and colleagues.

This is an exciting opportunity for a talented catering professional with healthcare experience to take ownership of a high-performing kitchen, lead a team of around 12 colleagues, and ensure the highest standards of food quality, safety, and customer satisfaction.

As Head Chef, you'll be responsible for the overall management of the kitchen operation, ensuring all food is prepared and served to the highest standards while maintaining strict compliance with food safety and healthcare catering requirements.

If you're a passionate catering professional who enjoys leading teams, delivering outstanding food, and making a positive difference within healthcare, we'd love to hear from you.

What you'll be doing:

• Leading, motivating, and developing the kitchen team
• Managing the daily operation of the kitchen and associated areas
• Preparing and delivering high-quality meals for patients, staff, visitors, and hospitality functions
• Managing food costs, stock levels, and kitchen budgets
• Ensuring all food is prepared in accordance with recipes, specifications, and dietary requirements
• Organising staff rotas to meet operational needs
• Driving exceptional patient and customer satisfaction levels
• Maintaining HACCP, food safety, and hygiene compliance at all times
• Managing stock ordering, receiving, storage, stock rotation, and stocktaking
• Recruiting, training, and developing team members
• Supporting audits and ensuring compliance with company, client, and legislative requirements
• Deputising for the Client Services Manager when required

What you bring:

You’ll be an experienced chef with strong leadership skills and a genuine passion for delivering excellent food and service within a healthcare environment.

Essential:

• Previous experience as a Head Chef or in a similar senior culinary role
• Healthcare catering experience
• Strong leadership and people management skills
• Excellent culinary and food presentation skills
• Good financial and commercial awarenessCustomer-focused approach
• City & Guilds 706/1 & 706/2 or equivalent qualification
• Level 3 Food Hygiene qualification
• Good IT and administrative skills

Desirable:

• IOSH Managing Safely qualification
• Diet Cookery Certificate
• Experience managing audits and regulatory inspections

Working at Sodexo isn't just a job - it's a chance to make a difference every day. You'll be part of a supportive team, act with purpose, and thrive in a role where your work matters. We also offer a range of benefits to support you and your loved ones:

• Mental health and wellbeing resources
• Employee Assistance Programme (including financial/legal advice & personal support)
• Free health & wellbeing app with 24/7 virtual GP access
• Discounts on high street brands for you and your family
• Salary finance tools and financial wellbeing resources
• Retirement savings plan and life insurance
• Full training and protective uniform provided.
• Opportunities to gain experience through learning and development.
• Cycle to Work scheme & volunteering opportunities.
• Flexible working and a dynamic team environment
• Competitive pay

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 100 million consumers each day through our unique combination of On-Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services.

We are committed to being an 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, So Together, 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.

Click here to read more about what we do to promote an inclusive culture.

Sodexo Disability, Ability network, So Together, Generations and Origins.

Keywords

• Head Chef
• Healthcare Catering
• Kitchen Management
• Team Leadership
• HACCP
• Food Safety
• Budget Management
• Stock Control
• Menu Planning
• Patient Dining Services