Head Chef – Contract Catering – London

Ruth Wagstaff Recruitment Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Monday to Friday

No regular evening events

Excellent work-life balance

Training and career development

Long-term, stable contract

Lots of company benefits!

Job summary

Wagstaff Recruitment is seeking a Retail Head Chef for a Contract Catering operation in the City of London. The role leads a street-food influenced, retail kitchen with Monday to Friday daytime hours and a premium on work-life balance.

You will own menus, manage a small team and oversee two main counters with Grab & Go options, ensuring quality and cost control while driving innovation.

Qualifications

• Head Chef or experienced Sous Chef ready to step up.
• Contract Catering, B&I or quality restaurant background.
• Strong leadership experience.
• Passionate about food trends and innovation.
• Creative with strong menu development skills.
• Hands-on and comfortable leading a small team.
• Ambitious, organised and commercially aware.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the retail kitchen operation.
• Create exciting, on-trend menus.
• Develop street food and bistro-style dishes.
• Lead and develop a small kitchen team.
• Deliver two main food counters.
• Oversee sandwiches and Grab & Go.
• Manage food quality, costs and daily operations.
• Drive innovation while maintaining consistency.

Skills

Leadership

Menu development

Street food

Food trends

Creativity

Hands-on

Ambitious

Job description

Retail Head Chef - Contract Catering - City of London - Monday to Friday - Up to £53,000

Head Chef | Contract Catering | Business & Industry | Street Food | Monday to Friday | City of London

We're recruiting a creative Retail Head Chef to lead a premium Business & Industry operation in the City of London.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a food-led chef who loves street food, current food trends and modern workplace dining, while enjoying genuine work-life balance with Monday-to-Friday daytime hours.

Salary & Benefits

• £51,500-£53,000
• Monday to Friday
• Approx. 7:00am-3:00pm
• No regular evening events
• Excellent work-life balance
• Training and career development
• Long-term, stable contract
• Lots of company benefits!

Why You'll Love It

• Around 350 people on site.
• Modern, trend-led food offer.
• Street food and pop-up concepts.
• Bistro-style dishes and comfort food.
• Creative input into menus.
• Small team with plenty of ownership.
• Quiet Fridays for planning and development.
• Separate hospitality department.

The Role

• Take ownership of the retail kitchen operation.
• Create exciting, on-trend menus.
• Develop street food and bistro-style dishes.
• Lead and develop a small kitchen team.
• Deliver two main food counters.
• Oversee sandwiches and Grab & Go.
• Manage food quality, costs and daily operations.
• Drive innovation while maintaining consistency.

About You

• Head Chef or experienced Sous Chef ready to step up.
• Contract Catering, B&I or quality restaurant background.
• Strong leadership experience.
• Passionate about food trends and innovation.
• Creative with strong menu development skills.
• Hands-on and comfortable leading a small team.
• Ambitious, organised and commercially aware.

If you're looking for a Head Chef role in the City of London paying up to £53,000, with Monday-to-Friday hours, 3pm finishes and genuine creative freedom, we'd love to hear from you.

Job Tenure: Permanent