Head Chef

The Black Horse, Thame; Thame; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A renowned hospitality group in England seeks an experienced Head Chef to lead their kitchen team, ensuring high standards of fresh, seasonal dishes. This role offers a competitive salary up to £55,000 and a comprehensive benefits package including private healthcare and bonuses based on performance. The ideal candidate will possess leadership skills and experience in managing kitchen operations, with a passion for quality food and training others. Join a growing company that values a warm and vibrant atmosphere.

Benefits

Private healthcare through Bupa

50% off food at any Heartwood Collection sites

Enhanced Maternity & Paternity package

Instant access to earned pay through EarlyPay

25 days of holiday plus Bank Holidays

Qualifications

• 3-4 years experience as Head Chef with branded operations knowledge.
• Ability to run all aspects of a kitchen and lead a team.
• Proven record of delivering results and meeting KPIs.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire the culinary team in a high-quality kitchen.
• Ensure the highest standards of food preparation and service.
• Manage financial aspects of kitchen operations effectively.

Skills

Fresh food cuisine preparation

Leadership and mentorship

Service management

Tools

Procure Wizard

Job description

Head Chef – Up to £55,000*Including TRONC

Relocation package available up to £5,000 (to be discussed at interview).

We're on the hunt for an experienced Head Chef who can lead and inspire their team, work magic with fresh, seasonal ingredients, and maintain the highest standards across the Heartwood Collection. If you care deeply about quality, enjoy mentoring others, and want to bring vibrant, honest cooking into homes and hearts, this is the role for you.

We're an award‑winning group of cosy pubs and atmospheric brasseries that truly feel like home. From the elegance of Brasserie Blanc to the charm of Heartwood Inns, we pride ourselves on serving fresh, seasonal dishes to our local communities.

What we offer:

• Competitive salary package, includes TRONC* and Bonus based on KPIs
• Contract of 48 hours
• Private healthcare through Bupa
• The Pantry – 100s of retailers and experience discounts through Reward Gateway
• 50% off food at any Heartwood Collection sites
• 20% off Friends and Family discount on food at any Heartwood Collection sites
• 33% discount when booking our Heartwood Rooms
• 15% Friend and Family discount on our Heartwood Rooms
• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity package
• 25 days of holiday plus Bank Holidays
• Up to £1,500 Referral Bonus
• Additional holiday - option to buy an extra 5 days holiday per year
• Instant access to pay you have already earned through EarlyPay
• Employee Assistance Program with Hospitality Action
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• A thoughtful gift to celebrate your birthday
• Long service rewards

About You:

• Be passionate about the food, culture and bringing out the best in the food, service and people
• Must be able to run a service from the line, fresh food cuisine and delivering training and support to a team of chefs
• Able to run all aspects of a kitchen and team, proven record of leadership skills, delivering results and reporting to the Area Chefs
• 3-4 years experience as a Head Chef with branded operations knowledge and taking control of financial aspects of running a kitchen and hitting KPIs
• Previous experience of using Procure Wizard would be preferable.

Heartwood Collection is a multi-award-winning hospitality group:

• Sunday Times Best Places to Work winner 2024
• Double winner at the Publican Awards 2024
• Best Pub Brand/ Concept at the Publican Awards 2025

At Heartwood Collection, we’re excited about the future. With over 40 locations now and plans to expand to more than 60 by 2027, including over 500 bedrooms, there’s never been a better time to join us. We’re committed to growing our team with progression opportunities across our estate.

Join us and be part of a community that’s warm, genuine, and full of life.

*TRONC is calculated from the expected 6 months' site average