Head Chef Monday-Friday

Compass Group UK; Hillyfields; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Personal Development

Pension scheme

Access to Healthcare App

Holiday allowance

Life assurance

Wellbeing strategy

Recognition schemes

Volunteering days

Job summary

Compass Group UK is looking for a Head Chef to join the team at Ordnance Survey. In this role, you will lead a kitchen team and produce fresh, seasonal food while ensuring high standards of quality and customer service.

You'll work on innovative menus and manage multiple food service options for up to 450 people daily. The position offers competitive salary and comprehensive benefits including personal development, pension scheme, and healthcare support.

Qualifications

• Experience in high-volume catering operations.
• Passionate about fresh food and modern food trends.
• Strong communicator with excellent people skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead a small kitchen team and deliver excellent customer experience.
• Produce and serve fresh, seasonal food for up to 450 people.
• Oversee a varied food offer including hot counter service and deli bar.
• Work with Catering Manager to create innovative menus.
• Maintain exceptional standards of food quality and kitchen compliance.
• Build strong relationships with customers and understand their needs.
• Manage stock, ordering, and food costs.
• Support and develop the team through positive leadership.

Skills

High-volume catering

Fresh food knowledge

People skills

Organizational skills

Customer service

Job description

Great food in the workplace isn’t simply about fuel. It’s about increasing productivity and improving performance; it’s about happy, motivated people and inspiring environments. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do – we live to bring food and people together.

We are brave, bold and curious adventurers in food and drink. Never shy of being different, always challenging the conventional.

Our passionate team of chefs, baristas, servers, nutritionists and much more, love nothing more than creating memorable moments that enrich the everyday. Come and join our award-winning teams – we are currently recruiting for a Head Chef to join our team at Ordnance Survey.

Salary: £37,500 per annum

Shift Pattern: Monday-Friday, 7:00-15:30, 40 hours per week

Location: Ordnance Survey, SO16 0AS.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead a small kitchen team of 3, working closely with 2 Front of House team members to deliver an excellent customer experience.
• Produce and serve fresh, seasonal food for a busy site catering for up to 450 people, with daily covers ranging from 200-400.
• Oversee a varied food offer including hot counter service, deli bar, salad bar, grab-and-go and hospitality for up to 80 guests per day.
• Work alongside the Catering Manager to create innovative menus that balance classic British cuisine, street food concepts and emerging food trends.
• Maintain exceptional standards of food quality, presentation, food safety and kitchen compliance.
• Be a hands‑on, customer‑facing chef, building strong relationships with customers and understanding their needs.
• Manage stock, ordering, food costs and wastage to achieve budget targets.
• Support, motivate and develop the team through clear communication and positive leadership.

We're Looking For Someone Who Is:

• Passionate about fresh food and modern food trends.
• Experienced in high-volume catering operations.
• Hardworking, flexible and highly organised.
• A strong communicator with excellent people skills.
• Comfortable in a customer-facing, hands‑on role.
• Able to thrive in a fast-paced environment while maintaining attention to detail.

What's in it for you?

Working with Gather & Gather has its perks! People are at the heart of everything we do, so we've developed a range of benefits to keep you happy.

• Personal Development and Training opportunities
• Life assurance scheme
• Pension scheme
• Holiday allowance
• Access to Healthcare Support App which includes Annual health check, Digital GP, Mental Health Consultations, Nutritional Consultations, Second Medical Opinion
• Eye care
• A great wellbeing strategy – including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, salary finance
• Family friendly support
• Regular social events and communication with our leaders

• A holiday purchase scheme
• Volunteering days
• Professional subscriptions
• Recognition schemes and people awards
• Long service awards
• Access to some great high street discount vouchers