Head Chef

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

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Head Chef to lead a talented team in a vibrant workplace dining environment. This role offers the chance to innovate and create fresh, seasonal menus that delight customers while ensuring high standards of food safety and presentation. With a focus on retail foodservice, you'll engage with the latest food trends and drive sales in a bustling café and deli setting. Enjoy a work-life balance with a Monday to Friday schedule, and benefit from career development opportunities and a supportive environment that values diversity.

Benefits

Career Development Opportunities

Healthcare and Wellbeing Benefits

Exclusive Discounts at Retailers

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.
• Create enticing menus that drive customer engagement and boost sales.
• Ensure high standards of food safety and hygiene.

Skills

Culinary Skills

Presentation Skills

Team Leadership

Organizational Skills

Menu Engineering

Food Safety Management

Education

Culinary Degree

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