Head Chef

Compass Group UK; Ware; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Personal development opportunities

Life assurance scheme

Pension scheme

Holiday allowance

Healthcare support app

Eye care

Wellbeing strategy and EAP

Family friendly support

Regular social events

Holiday purchase scheme

Volunteering days

Professional subscriptions

Recognition schemes and awards

Long service awards

Discount vouchers

Job summary

Compass Group UK is recruiting for a Head Chef at GSK Ware GSC. The role leads day-to-day kitchen operations, develops a team of 5, and manages purchasing and budgets to deliver high-quality meals for 80–100 covers daily.

The role requires strong food safety knowledge, menu planning skills, and proactive client/stakeholder engagement to maintain standards and profitability.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a large kitchen team in a catering/food service environment.
• Proven ability to manage food purchasing, stock control and budgets.
• Experience delivering high-quality, seasonal menus.
• Strong knowledge of food safety and health & safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all day-to-day kitchen operations, delivering a high-quality food offering across breakfast, lunch, and hospitality services.
• Develop and lead a team of 5, providing coaching and performance feedback.
• Manage purchasing, stock control and food spend to meet budgets and GP targets.
• Plan seasonal menus in line with client expectations and company standards.
• Maintain compliance with food safety and health & safety requirements.
• Produce high-quality meals for a busy site serving 80–100 covers daily.
• Maintain kitchen standards and service delivery across retail and hospitality operations.
• Build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders to adapt to changing needs.
• Monitor waste and labor costs to maximise profitability.
• Support wider site team to deliver an outstanding customer experience.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Food safety

Budgeting

Menu planning

Communication

Job description

Great food in the workplace isn’t simply about fuel.It’s about increasing productivity and improving performance; it’s about happy, motivated people and inspiring environments. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do – we live to bring food and people together.

We are brave, bold and curious adventurers in food and drink. Never shy of being different, always challenging the conventional.

Our passionate team of chefs, baristas, servers, nutritionists and much more, love nothing more than creating memorable moments that enrich the everyday.Come and join our award-winning teams – we are currently recruiting for a Head Chef to join our team.

Shift Pattern: Monday-Friday, 7:00-15:00

Location: GSK Ware GSC

Salary: £40,000 per annum

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage all day-to-day kitchen operations, ensuring a high-quality food offering across breakfast, lunch, and hospitality services.
• Oversee and develop a team of 5, providing leadership, training, and support to drive performance and engagement.
• Manage food purchasing, stock control, and food spend, ensuring budgets and GP targets are achieved.
• Plan and deliver fresh, seasonal menus in line with client expectations and company standards.
• Ensure all food safety, health & safety, and compliance standards are maintained at all times.
• Produce high-quality food for a busy, high-profile B&I site serving 80-100 covers daily.
• Maintain excellent kitchen standards, presentation, and service delivery across retail and hospitality operations.
• Build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders, responding effectively to changing business needs.
• Monitor waste, labour costs, and operational efficiencies to maximise profitability.
• Support the wider site team to deliver an outstanding customer experience.

What's in it for you?

Working with G&G has its perks! People are at the heart of everything we do, so we've developed a range of benefits to keep you happy.

• Personal Development and Training opportunities
• Life assurance scheme
• Pension scheme
• Holiday allowance
• Access to Healthcare Support App which includes Annual health check, Digital GP, Mental Health Consultations, Nutritional Consultations, Second Medical Opinion
• Eye care
• A great wellbeing strategy – including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, salary finance
• Family friendly support
• Regular social events and communication with our leaders

• A holiday purchase scheme
• Volunteering days
• Professional subscriptions
• Recognition schemes and people awards
• Long service awards
• Access to some great high street discount vouchers

CH&CO, a part of 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!