Head Chef

The Met Hotel Leeds; Leeds; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

40h Week

Hotel room discounts

Birthday leave

Maternity/adoption leave

Course sponsorship

30% F&B discount at RBH hotels

Refer a Friend bonus

Flexible working

Wagestream pay option

Life Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Wellness events & activities

Job summary

The Met Hotel Leeds is seeking an exceptional Head Chef to take total ownership of Gotts Bar & Kitchen and our extensive events kitchen, delivering flawless service while coordinating multiple banquets up to 350 guests.

You will lead a kitchen brigade, design vibrant menus, control food and labour costs, recruit and train staff, and ensure compliance with food safety and allergen regulations across all outlets and events. This is a high-profile role in a bustling, multi-outlet setting.

Qualifications

• Head Chef experience in large-scale conference hotels, resorts, or high-volume event catering.
• Proven ability to run premium fresh-food restaurants and deliver seamless banquets at scale.
• Strong understanding of menu engineering, food costing, rostering, and kitchen logistics.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Gotts Bar & Kitchen and the events kitchen operations.
• Lead a kitchen brigade to deliver high-quality service for restaurant and banquets up to 350 guests.
• Develop commercially viable menus that attract residents and local diners.

Skills

Head Chef experience

High-volume catering

Menu engineering

Food safety knowledge

Education

Level 3 Food Safety

Culinary qualifications

Job description

Description

JOIN US

At RBH we believe our people are our biggest assets and understand the value in putting them first. Our approach to diversity in the workplace, health & wellbeing, sustainability and individuality sets us apart from our competitors and is one of the reasons we are rated Top 30 Best Places to Work in Hospitality! We are passionate about the industry and always on the lookout for new talent to join us on our journey...

OUR HOTEL

After an extensive refurbishment and repositioning, The Met has established itself as one of the leading independent hotels in Leeds and the North of England. A lifestyle hotel alongside offering high-volume conference and events hotel known for hosting major corporate functions, gala dinners and bespoke weddings. Alongside our banqueting operations, Gotts Bar & Kitchen has been reimagined, featuring modern, locally sourced cuisine. We are looking for an exceptional, multi-faceted Head Chef who can balance the culinary artistry required for a new restaurant with the strategic precision needed to execute large-scale event catering.

The Role

This is a unique leadership position. You will have total operational and creative ownership of Gotts B&K and our extensive events kitchen. You will lead a kitchen brigade to deliver a flawless service while simultaneously executing multiple banquets for up to 350 guests.

Key Responsibilities

• Large-Scale Conference & Banqueting: Oversee the planning, preparation, and seamless execution of diverse conference and event menus, ensuring hot, high-quality food is delivered precisely on time.
• Gotts Bar & KitchenDrive the culinary identity of the new restaurant, designing vibrant, commercially viable menus that attract both hotel residents and local foodies
• Leadership: Recruit, train, and manage a robust kitchen team, effectively structuring shifts to cover both independent restaurant service and banqueting requirements.
• Financial Control: Take full accountability for food and labour costs across multiple outlets, managing supplier contracts, inventory, and wastage to maximise overall GP margins.
• Compliance: Ensure total adherence to food safety, allergen management, and health and safety regulations across all food prep and service areas.

About You

We need a highly organised, resilient culinary leader who thrives in a fast-paced, multi-outlet environment and understands the logistics of scale.

• Experience: Head Chef in a large-scale conference hotel, resort, or high-volume event catering business.
• Dual Expertise: Proven experience running a premium fresh-food restaurant, alongside a track record of executing seamless banquets for large guest counts.
• Logistical Acumen: Exceptional organisational skills with a strong grasp of food costings, menu engineering, staff rostering, and kitchen logistics.
• Qualifications: Level 3 Food Safety certification, relevant culinary qualifications, and a deep knowledge of modern allergen compliance.

OUR BENEFITS

You will have access to a benefits package we believe truly works for our people

• 40hr Week
• Discounted hotel room rates for you and your friends & family
• An additional day's leave for your birthday
• Enhanced Maternity, adoption & shared parental leave
• Course Sponsorship
• 30% F&B discount at RBH hotels
• Refer a Friend scheme (earn £250 for each referral up to 5 referrals)
• Flexible working arrangements
• Wagestream - choose how and when you get paid
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Social and wellness events and activities all year round
• Free meals on duty saving you over £1000 per year

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

RBH Hospitality Management is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive, people-first culture. If at any point throughout our process you require reasonable adjustments, please contact.

Compensation: To be discussed