Head Chef

Compass Group PLC; Leeds; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Contributory pension scheme

Career Pathways & MyLearning

Digital GP and wider healthcare

Travel discounts

Cinema tickets discounts

Cash rewards program

Wellness and mindfulness classes

Discounts for family and friends

Job summary

Compass Group UK&I is seeking an experienced Head Chef/Sous Chef to lead a corporate kitchen in Leeds. You will drive excellence in food preparation, oversee a busy service, and develop seasonal menus using local ingredients.

This hands-on role requires strong leadership, budget awareness, and a commitment to safety and quality, with collaboration across front-of-house teams. The position offers an engaging, fast-paced environment with opportunities to mentor staff and contribute to outstanding

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Head Chef/Sous Chef in contract catering or high-volume hospitality environments.
• Strong hands-on leadership with ability to motivate and manage a team.
• Experience delivering high-end food and service in hospitality-focused settings.
• Able to adapt workload to changing business levels.
• Excellent culinary skills with creative menu development.
• Solid organisational and communication skills.
• Strong knowledge of health & safety and food hygiene standards.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily kitchen operations, ensuring high standards of food preparation and hospitality delivery.
• Lead by example during busy service periods.
• Develop and deliver innovative, seasonal menus using locally sourced ingredients.
• Manage workload and staffing for fluctuating business demands.
• Lead, train, and inspire chefs and kitchen staff to maintain high performance.
• Plan staffing and resources to meet service needs.
• Ensure health & safety compliance and food hygiene standards.
• Manage budgets, food costs, and stock for profitability.
• Collaborate with front-of-house teams to deliver a seamless dining experience.

Skills

Leadership

Team motivation

High-volume service

Menu development

Budget control

Health & safety

Menu innovation

Job description

Responsibilities

• Oversee the daily kitchen operations, ensuring high standards of food preparation, presentation, and hospitality delivery.
• Take a hands-on approach in the kitchen, leading by example during busy service periods.
• Develop and deliver innovative, seasonal menus, using fresh, locally sourced ingredients and responding to evolving food trends.
• Manage a diverse and dynamic workload, confidently adapting to periods of high-volume hospitality alongside quieter service times.
• Lead, train, and inspire a team of chefs and kitchen staff, fostering a positive, supportive, and high-performing team environment.
• Effectively plan staffing and resources to meet the demands of a fluctuating business model.
• Ensure full compliance with health & safety regulations and food hygiene standards.
• Manage kitchen budgets, food costs, and stock control to maximise profitability.
• Work closely with front-of-house teams to deliver a seamless and high-quality hospitality experience.

Are you a creative and experienced Head Chef or Sous Chef looking for your next step, with a passion for delivering outstanding hospitality experiences?

We're looking for a talented, hands-on professional to lead our kitchen team and elevate the dining experience in a prestigious corporate setting. We are seeking an experienced and passionate individual to lead our kitchen team in delivering exceptional food and hospitality experiences for our prestigious clients. This role requires a hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment, managing both fine dining hospitality and staff restaurant services, while adapting to the natural peaks and troughs of an up-and-down business.,

Requirements

• Proven experience as a Head Chef, Sous Chef, or in a senior culinary role, ideally within contract catering or high-volume hospitality environments.
• Strong hands-on leadership style with the ability to motivate, develop, and manage a team effectively.
• Demonstrated experience working within hospitality-focused environments, delivering high-end food and service.
• Ability to adapt to changing business levels and manage workload accordingly.
• Excellent culinary skills combined with a creative and innovative approach to menu development.
• Strong organisational and communication skills.
• Solid understanding of health & safety and food hygiene standards.
• Experience managing budgets and controlling costs effectively.

The role is primarily Monday to Friday, offering a great work-life balance, with some evening work required to support hospitality events and functions.,

Incentives:

• 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

Restaurant Associates provides brilliant hospitality through our food, drink and services. We work with our partners and collaborate with our clients to achieve great things together.Every day, our teams of passionate hospitality professionals strive for excellence in delivering employee dining and hospitality to some of the UK's leading workplace as well as inspiring exceptional experiences in iconic cultural and heritage destinations. Job Reference: com/2807/62919001/51944600/BU #RA Group Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!