Head Chef

Sodexo Group; Slough; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited wellbeing platform access

Employee Assistance Programme

24hr virtual GP Service

Sodexo Discounts Scheme

Pension Plan

Learning and development tools

Bike to Work Scheme

Enhanced benefits and leave policies

Job summary

Sodexo is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead the culinary operation at our Slough site. You will manage the Associate Restaurant, hospitality and events, delivering high-quality food while upholding food safety and standards.

You will drive menu development, coach a kitchen team, control costs and ensure compliance across all services, supporting outstanding client and customer experiences. This role offers development opportunities and a strong rewards package.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef within contract catering, corporate dining, hotels or another high-volume fresh food environment.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with a passion for developing and mentoring chefs.
• Excellent knowledge of food safety, allergens and kitchen compliance.
• Experience delivering hospitality, banqueting and high-profile events.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support the day-to-day kitchen operation across all service areas, including the Associate Restaurant, hospitality, banqueting and events.
• Lead by example, ensuring food is consistently prepared, cooked and presented to a high standard.
• Drive culinary innovation through fresh food, seasonal menus, modern food trends and creative presentation.
• Ensure all food safety, allergen, hygiene, health & safety and company standards are consistently met.
• Maintain accurate daily due diligence records and challenge any gaps in compliance.
• Prepare the kitchen for Sodexo Safeguard and EHO inspections, maintaining excellent audit and hygiene standards.
• Lead, motivate and develop the kitchen team, supporting recruitment, onboarding, training and succession planning.
• Build a positive kitchen culture focused on teamwork, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Manage stock, ordering, food costs and waste, supporting strong GP and overall financial performance.
• Plan effectively for events, forecasting volumes and ensuring appropriate staffing and resources are in place.
• Work closely with Sodexo management, front-of-house teams and our clients to deliver an outstanding customer experience.
• Support the delivery of high-quality hospitality, banqueting and fine dining events.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, quality and consistency across the culinary operation.
• Represent Sodexo professionally and contribute positively to the wider site operation.

Skills

Head Chef experience

People leadership

Food safety & compliance

Cost control & GP

High-volume catering

Job description

The following content displays a map of the jobs location - Slough

• £43000 per annum plus our Sodexo employee benefits package
• Opportunities for professional development

Head Chef

Slough SL1 4LG

At Sodexo, we’re passionate about our people. We know that our teams are the key to delivering exceptional service and creating meaningful experiences for our clients, customers, and employees.

Sodexo is looking for an experienced and passionate Head Chef to join our prestigious site in Slough.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Sous Chef ready to take the next step, or an established Head Chef looking for a new challenge within a high-profile contract catering environment.

You will lead the culinary operation across the Associate Restaurant, hospitality and events, delivering fresh, high-quality food while maintaining exceptional standards of service, presentation, food safety and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support the day-to-day kitchen operation across all service areas, including the Associate Restaurant, hospitality, banqueting and events.
• Lead by example, ensuring food is consistently prepared, cooked and presented to a high standard.
• Drive culinary innovation through fresh food, seasonal menus, modern food trends and creative presentation.
• Ensure all food safety, allergen, hygiene, health & safety and company standards are consistently met.
• Maintain accurate daily due diligence records and challenge any gaps in compliance.
• Prepare the kitchen for Sodexo Safeguard and EHO inspections, maintaining excellent audit and hygiene standards.
• Lead, motivate and develop the kitchen team, supporting recruitment, onboarding, training and succession planning.
• Build a positive kitchen culture focused on teamwork, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Manage stock, ordering, food costs and waste, supporting strong GP and overall financial performance.
• Plan effectively for events, forecasting volumes and ensuring appropriate staffing and resources are in place.
• Work closely with Sodexo management, front-of-house teams and our clients to deliver an outstanding customer experience.
• Support the delivery of high-quality hospitality, banqueting and fine dining events.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, quality and consistency across the culinary operation.
• Represent Sodexo professionally and contribute positively to the wider site operation.

What we're looking for

• Proven experience as a Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef within contract catering, corporate dining, hotels or another high-volume fresh food environment.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with a passion for developing and mentoring chefs.
• Excellent knowledge of food safety, allergens and kitchen compliance.
• Experience delivering hospitality, banqueting and high-profile events.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple service areas.
• Commercial awareness, including stock control, food costs and waste management.
• Creative, customer-focused and passionate about delivering high-quality food.
• Able to remain calm, organised and hands-on in a busy environment.
• Experience within business and industry or corporate contract catering is desirable.

Why Sodexo?

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it’s a chance tobe part of something greater.

Belong in a company and team that values you foryou.

Act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions.

Thrive in your own way.

We also offer a range of perks, rewards and benefits for our colleagues and their families:

• Unlimited access to an online platform offering wellbeing support
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme to help with everyday issues or life's larger problems, including legal and financial advice, support with work or personal issues impacting your wellbeing
• Access to a 24hr virtual GP Service
• Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering great deals 24/7 across popular high street retailers (also open to friends and family)
• Save for your future by becoming a member of the Pension Plan
• Opportunities to enable colleagues to grow and succeed throughout their career at Sodexo, including a variety of learning and development tools
• Bike to Work Scheme to help colleagues to do their bit for the environment whilst keeping fit
• Sodexo UK and Irelands enhanced benefits and leave policies

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

We are committed tobeingan inclusive employer. We are a forces friendly employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, background and identities. We encourage our employees to get involved with our Employee Networks such as Pride, Sodexo Parents & Carers, Sodexo Disability, Ability network, SoTogether, 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.

Ready to be part of something greater?

Sodexo reserves the right to close this advert early if we are in receipt of a high number of applications