Head Chef — Campus Dining Innovator & Leader

Compass Group UK; City Of London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Contributory pension scheme

Career Pathways and MyLearning

Digital GP and wider healthcare

Exclusive travel discounts

Discounts on groceries

Cinema ticket discounts

Cash rewards on spending

Wellness and mindfulness classes

Share discounts with friends & family

Job summary

Chartwells Higher Education, part of Compass Group, partners with the University of Greenwich to deliver exceptional food, hospitality and events for students and staff. We are seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead and shape the culinary offer across a dynamic university environment.

You will oversee a talented kitchen team, drive menus and operations, manage budgets, and ensure top-notch quality, food safety, and sustainability.

Qualifications

• Proven senior kitchen leadership experience.
• Strong budget, stock and labour cost management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the culinary offer across retail, hospitality, and events.
• Support delivery of a food vision focused on quality, sustainability, and brand standards.
• Drive menu development and introduce new concepts.
• Source ingredients and coordinate with suppliers and central teams.
• Ensure all dishes meet high standards and comply with safety rules.
• Maintain food safety, allergen management and health/safety compliance.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Team development

Budget management

Stock control

Labour scheduling

Food safety

Allergen management

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Professional Cookery

Intermediate Food Hygiene Level 3

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Teams

Excel

UK driving licence

Job description

Chartwells Higher Education, part of Compass Group, partners with the University of Greenwich to deliver exceptional food, hospitality and events for students and staff. We are seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead and shape the culinary offer across a dynamic university environment.

You will oversee a talented kitchen team, drive menus and operations, manage budgets, and ensure top-notch quality, food safety, and sustainability.