Head Chef

Compass Group UK; Salisbury; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a passionate Head Chef to lead a dynamic team in a vibrant workplace dining environment. This role offers a unique opportunity to innovate and create seasonal menus while ensuring exceptional food presentation and customer service. With a focus on retail and café operations, you will manage all aspects of food production, engage with the latest culinary trends, and work closely with front-of-house teams to enhance the dining experience. Join a supportive and inclusive environment that values diversity and offers career development opportunities.

Benefits

Career Development and Training

Healthcare and Wellbeing Benefits

Exclusive Discounts

Supportive Work Environment

Qualifications

• Experienced Head Chef with a strong background in retail foodservice.
• Excellent culinary and presentation skills with a flair for creating food.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team to deliver fresh food across coffee shop and deli counters.
• Create menus that drive customer engagement and boost sales.
• Ensure high standards of food safety and hygiene.

Skills

Culinary Skills

Food Safety Management (HACCP, COSHH)

Menu Engineering

Team Leadership

Customer Service

Education

Culinary Degree

Food Safety Certification

Job description

Mon-Fri, 07:30-16:00 | Salisbury

Are you a passionate Head Chef looking for a fresh challenge with great work-life balance and a strong customer-facing element? We’re on the lookout for a skilled and creative Head Chef to lead a team of three in a vibrant workplace dining environment that combines premium dining with a bustling retail offer, including a coffee shop and in-house deli counters.

Founded in New York 59 years ago, Restaurant Associates delivers exceptional food experiences in some of the UK’s most prestigious workplaces. We believe food brings people together—and that great workplace dining helps inspire productivity, collaboration, and wellbeing.

In this exciting role, you’ll manage all aspects of food production for our on-site café and deli-style counters, serving both staff and visiting customers. You'll create fresh, seasonal menus using top-quality ingredients, drive footfall and retail sales, and ensure exceptional presentation and customer service.

What’s in it for you:

• 07:30 - 16:00 - 5 Days over 7 so you can enjoy your evenings
• Opportunity to lead and innovate in a retail-focused hospitality setting

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and inspire a team of 3 to deliver fresh, on-trend food across coffee shop, deli, and grab-and-go counters
• Create enticing menus that drive customer engagement and boost sales
• Ensure high standards of food safety, hygiene (HACCP, COSHH), and allergen management
• Work closely with front-of-house and retail teams to deliver a seamless customer experience
• Monitor and control kitchen costs within budgetary guidelines
• Engage with the latest food trends to keep the offer innovative and relevant

What we’re looking for:

• Experienced Head Chef with a strong background in retail foodservice, deli, or café operations
• Excellent culinary and presentation skills with a flair for creating food that sells
• Strong people leader, able to develop and motivate a small team
• Excellent organisational skills with a hands-on approach
• Commercial awareness and understanding of menu engineering and food cost control
• Enthusiastic, energetic, and committed to great customer experiences

Why join Restaurant Associates?

• Access to career development and training through Career Pathways and MyLearning
• Healthcare and wellbeing benefits, including digital GP and wellness sessions
• Save on everyday costs with exclusive discounts at Tesco, Sainsbury's, Expedia, and more
• Share perks with friends and family - from travel deals to cinema tickets
• A supportive, inclusive environment where diversity is our strength