Head Chef

Hilton; Watford; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Hilton in the United Kingdom is seeking a Head Chef to lead daily kitchen operations, ensuring quality and profitability while delivering memorable guest experiences. You will oversee menus, inventory, and supplier relationships, coordinating with the Executive Chef and F&B leadership to innovate with seasonal ingredients.

This role requires strong leadership, integrity, and ownership in a high-pace hospitality setting.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a kitchen team and delivering high-quality culinary output.
• Strong understanding of cost controls, budgeting, and profitability.
• Ability to create and refine menus using seasonal ingredients and trends.
• Experience managing supplier relationships and inventory to ensure quality and efficiency.
• Familiarity with reviewing P&L and driving financial performance.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily culinary operations: manage food prep, quality, and cost controls.
• Develop and execute menus with Executive Chef and F&B leadership, incorporating seasonal ingredients.
• Manage inventory and procurement, vendor relationships to maintain cost efficiency.
• Support financial performance by monitoring food/labor costs and improving efficiency.
• Enhance guest experiences by engaging with guests and internal stakeholders.
• Inspire and develop the team: supervise, coach, and foster a productive work environment.
• Uphold health, safety, sanitation, and alcohol awareness regulations.

Skills

Leadership

Cost control

Menu development

Vendor management

P&L reviews

Job description

Job Identification: 220435

Job Category: Culinary

Job Schedule: Full time

Salary Competitive

Exceptional Hospitality Starts with You

Picture yourself brightening someone’s day. When you join our Hotels team, that’s exactly what you’ll do every time you come to work! As a Head Chef , you’re not just overseeing kitchen operations – you’re spreading the light and warmth of hospitality by delivering memorable experiences that make the stay for every guest.

Here’s what you’ll do during a typical day:

• Oversee daily culinary operations: Manage food preparation and production, ensuring consistency, quality, and adherence to cost controls to optimize profitability

• Develop and execute menus: Collaborate with the Executive Chef and Food & Beverage leadership to create and refine menus, incorporating seasonal ingredients and culinary trends

• Manage inventory and procurement: Oversee ordering, inventory control, and vendor relationships to maintain cost efficiency while ensuring high‑quality ingredients

• Support financial performance: Participate in P&L reviews, manage food and labor costs, and implement strategies to improve operational efficiency and profitability

• Enhance guest experiences: Engage with guests and internal stakeholders, gather feedback, and support initiatives to elevate the dining experience

• Inspire and develop the team: Supervise and support team members, monitor performance, provide coaching, and foster a positive and productive work environment

• Uphold regulatory standards: Maintain compliance with health, safety, sanitation, and alcohol awareness regulations, ensuring the highest standards of guest and team member wellbeing

What It Takes to Make the Stay

At Hilton, our core values define what it takes to succeed here and guide the qualities we look for in every team member:

A passion for spreading the light and warmth of Hospitality . Acting with Integrity and always doing the right thing. Inspiring others through Leadership . A belief that Teamwork drives the best outcomes. A sense of Ownership and accountability. And a focus on the Now , bringing urgency and discipline to every moment, knowing it can make a lasting impact.

Join an Award-Winning Workplace Culture

At Hilton, we don’t just deliver exceptional experiences for our guests—we build an exceptional workplace for the Team Members who make it all possible. As a global leader in hospitality, we’ve welcomed more than 3 billion guests worldwide, all while staying true to our founding vision: to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality.

Our award-winning culture has earned us repeated recognition on the World’s Best Workplaces list by Great Place to Work and Fortune. With our suite of world‑class brands (https://www.hilton.com/en/brands/) , and a company‑wide commitment to providing the best stay for every guest, we’re setting new standards for the future of travel.

Whether you’re starting your career or exploring something new, Hilton supports your journey every step of the way. Come for the job, stay for the career—and help us make every stay a little more magical.

Curious about life at Hilton? Explore our Careers Blog (https://jobs.hilton.com/blogs) to see why we’re more than a great place to stay—we’re a great place to work.