Head Chef - Heathrow

Chartwells Independent; Greater London; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Eurest Heathrow is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead our busy workplace catering operation at Heathrow, delivering breakfasts, lunches and hospitality while inspiring your team.

You will manage a large kitchen, control food costs, uphold the highest standards of food safety, and drive continuous improvements in quality and service.

This fast-paced role offers the chance to shape memorable guest experiences at one of the UK's busiest locations.

Qualifications

• Experience as Head Chef in a high-volume catering environment.
• Contract catering experience is highly desirable.
• Excellent culinary knowledge and a genuine passion for great food.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Experience delivering large-scale food service and hospitality.
• Commercial awareness with experience managing food costs and budgets.
• Excellent communication and client relationship skills.
• Ability to remain calm and organized in a busy operational environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire kitchen team to deliver consistently exceptional food.
• Oversee high-volume production while maintaining quality and presentation.
• Deliver first-class hospitality for meetings, events and VIP guests.
• Plan menus that are fresh, seasonal and commercially successful.
• Manage food costs, stock control, ordering and waste to maximise efficiency.
• Ensure the highest standards of food safety, health & safety and compliance.
• Build strong relationships with clients and respond confidently to their needs.
• Coach, develop and motivate your team to reach their full potential.
• Drive continuous improvements across food quality, service standards and kitchen performance.

Skills

Leadership

Menu planning

Cost control

Food safety

Client relations

Team development

High-volume catering

Communication skills

Job description

Head Chef - Heathrow

£38,000 per annum | 40 Hours per Week

Lead a Kitchen That Never Stands Still

Are you a passionate Head Chef who thrives in a fast-paced environment where quality, leadership and innovation are at the heart of every service?

We're looking for an experienced Head Chef to lead our culinary team at Eurest Heathrow. This is an exciting opportunity to oversee a busy workplace catering operation, delivering exceptional breakfasts, lunches and hospitality experiences while inspiring your team to create food that customers genuinely look forward to.

No two days are the same. From high-volume service to premium hospitality, you'll have the opportunity to showcase your culinary expertise while driving standards, developing your team and creating memorable food experiences.

What You'll Be Doing

• Leading and inspiring a talented kitchen team to deliver consistently exceptional food
• Overseeing high-volume food production while maintaining outstanding quality and presentation
• Delivering first-class hospitality for meetings, events and VIP guests
• Planning menus that are fresh, seasonal and commercially successful
• Managing food costs, stock control, ordering and waste to maximise efficiency
• Ensuring the highest standards of food safety, health & safety and compliance
• Building strong relationships with clients and responding confidently to their needs
• Coaching, developing and motivating your team to achieve their full potential
• Driving continuous improvements across food quality, service standards and kitchen performance

Who We're Looking For

You'll be a confident and inspiring leader who enjoys developing people just as much as creating exceptional food.

You'll also have:

• Previous experience as a Head Chef within a high-volume catering environment
• Contract catering experience is highly desirable
• Excellent culinary knowledge and a genuine passion for great food
• Strong leadership and people management skills
• Experience delivering both large-scale food service and high-quality hospitality
• Commercial awareness with experience managing food costs and budgets
• Excellent communication and client relationship skills
• The ability to remain calm and organised in a busy operational environment

Security Requirements

As this role is based at Heathrow, successful candidates will be required to obtain security clearance.

This includes:

• A 5-year continuous employment, education or address history with no unexplained gaps
• The ability to provide references and documentation to support the clearance process

Why Join Eurest?

At Eurest, we create better breaks by delivering fresh, nutritious and sustainable food experiences that keep people energised throughout the working day.

Operating in more than 700 workplaces across the UK, we're transforming workplace dining through innovation, exceptional service and a commitment to sustainability, and we're proud to put people, great food and the planet at the heart of everything we do.

When you join Eurest, you'll become part of a supportive team where your ideas are valued, your development is encouraged and your career can flourish.

If you're ready to lead a high-performing kitchen and make a real impact at one of the UK's busiest locations, we'd love to hear from you.