Head Chef- Kents Hill Park

The Venues Collection; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

23 days holiday + bank holidays

Healthcare and wellbeing support

Birthday off and extra holidays

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

The Venues Collection is seeking a hands-on Head Chef for Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre in Milton Keynes. You will lead the kitchen, shape the culinary offer, and drive consistency across breakfast, lunch, dinner and banquets in a busy events environment.

We value creativity, leadership, and a guest-first approach, with a focus on sustainability and excellent food safety standards. Enjoy clear opportunities for career development within Compass Group UK&I.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Head Chef or senior Sous Chef ready to lead.
• Passion for fresh ingredients and memorable dining experiences.
• Strong track record in quality hospitality and team leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen brigade, inspiring a high-performing team.
• Own the culinary offer, bringing creativity to menus.
• Create visually appealing dishes using fresh ingredients.
• Adapt menus for conferences, meetings, weddings and events.
• Collaborate with GM and leadership to enhance food experience.
• Manage budgets, food costs, labour and waste without sacrificing quality.
• Champion sustainability and ensure food safety standards.

Skills

Leadership

Menu development

Food safety & hygiene

Cost control & budgeting

Team development

High-pressure service

Creativity in cooking

Job description

Head Chef – Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre, Milton Keynes

Full-Time | Permanent | Up to £50,000 + Excellent Benefits

We’re looking for a Head Chef who wants to make their mark.

This is a brilliant opportunity to take the reins of the kitchen at Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre and put your own stamp on the food, the team and the overall guest experience.

We’re looking for an ambitious, creative and hands‑on Head Chef who loves great food, enjoys leading from the front and knows what it takes to deliver consistently brilliant service in a busy hospitality environment with breakfast lunch and dinner being served from our food hub along with private dinning and banquets.

You’ll have the opportunity to shape our culinary offer, develop a talented kitchen team and work closely with the General Manager and wider leadership team to take the food experience at Kents Hill Park to the next level.

And because we’re part of Levy UK & Ireland, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to develop your career, share ideas and make a real impact across a much bigger hospitality business.

About Kents Hill Park

Kents Hill Park is part of The Venues Collection, a group of five unique venues across the UK offering everything from meetings and conferences to celebrations and overnight stays.

With flexible spaces largest holding 600 delegates, a diverse range of events and guests, and plenty happening throughout the year, no two days in our kitchen are quite the same.

What You’ll Be Doing

As Head Chef, you’ll be at the heart of the operation, leading the kitchen team and making sure every dish that leaves the pass delivers on quality, creativity and consistency.

You’ll

• Lead, inspire and develop the kitchen brigade, creating a positive and high-performing team environment.
• Take ownership of the culinary offer, bringing your own creativity, personality and ideas to our menus.
• Create food that looks as good as it tastes, using fresh, quality ingredients and keeping ahead of food trends.
• Adapt your approach to suit a broad range of guests and occasions, from conferences and meetings to weddings and special events.
• Work closely with the General Manager and senior leadership team to continually
• improve the food and guest experience.
• Take a commercial approach to the kitchen, managing budgets, food costs, labour and waste without compromising on quality.
• Champion sustainability and play an important role in helping us achieve our wider environmental goals.
• Make sure the kitchen operates to the highest standards of food safety, hygiene and compliance.
• Embrace technology, including online food ordering, food waste management and menu planning systems.
• Be hands‑on during service and lead by example when things get busy.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who is confident, creative and calm under pressure — a chef who can take charge of a busy kitchen but still gets excited about what’s going on the plate.

You’ll Bring

• Proven experience as a Head Chef or senior Sous Chef ready to take the next step.
• A genuine passion for fresh ingredients, great cooking and creating memorable food experiences.
• A strong track record in a quality hospitality environment.
• A natural ability to lead, motivate and develop a kitchen team.
• Creativity and confidence to bring your own style and ideas to the menu.
• A guest‑first approach and the ability to adapt your offer across different types of events and occasions.
• Strong commercial awareness, including food costs, labour, waste and budgets.
• Excellent food safety and hygiene knowledge.
• A hands‑on approach and the resilience to thrive in a busy environment.
• The flexibility to work around the needs of the business, including weekends and key service periods.

This isn't a 9–5 kitchen role — it's an opportunity for someone who genuinely loves hospitality and wants to be part of making great things happen.

What’s in it for you?

We believe great people deserve great benefits. Alongside a salary of up to £50,000, you’ll get:

• 23 days’ holiday + bank holidays, your birthday off and the option to buy additional holidays
• Healthcare and wellbeing support, including AvivaDigicare and Medicash
• Two weeks off over Christmas and New Year for you to enjoy
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme and mental health support
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Additional family‑friendly benefits
• Shopping, entertainment and travel discounts
• 20% off Nuffield Health and 10% off Pure Gym memberships
• Pension scheme and Life Assurance
• Preferred rates on salary finance products
• Professional subscriptions and ongoing training
• Structured career development and progression opportunities
• Meals on duty

Why Join Us?

The Venues Collection is part of Compass Group UK&I, bringing together seven easily accessible event spaces with hotel-style residential and leisure facilities across the UK.

Our venues feature stylish and individual event spaces, from contemporary meeting rooms to historic and characterful destinations. At Kents Hill Park, you’ll be part of a team that creates memorable experiences for guests every day.

We believe in celebrating individuality and building inclusive teams where everyone feels they belong. Our diverse team fuels creativity, innovation and excellence.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome candidates from all backgrounds to join us in creating a supportive, empowering workplace where everyone can thrive.

Together, we create unforgettable experiences – and shape the future of hospitality.

Job Reference: com/0710/97325001/52838035/SU #Venues Collection

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!