Head Chef- Sedgebrook Hall - Northampton

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

Benefits offered by this job

23 days holiday + bank holidays

Healthcare and wellbeing support

Pension scheme

Meals on duty

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

The Venues Collection seeks a dynamic Head Chef to take charge at Sedgebrook Hall, guiding the kitchen team to deliver outstanding, creative dishes and a memorable guest experience. You will shape the culinary offer, lead from the front and collaborate with the General Manager to drive food excellence across events and groups.

We value hands-on leaders who can manage budgets, motivate staff and stay ahead of trends in a busy hospitality environment, with opportunities to grow within Levy UK

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Head Chef or senior Sous Chef.
• Strong leadership and team development skills.
• Hands-on in a busy kitchen with high standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead, inspire and develop the kitchen brigade to deliver quality, creativity and consistency.
• Own the culinary offer and bring creativity to menus.
• Manage budgets, food costs, labour and waste without compromising quality.
• Champion sustainability and ensure food safety, hygiene and compliance.
• Lead by example during busy service and drive guest satisfaction.

Skills

Leadership

Menu development

Kitchen management

Food safety

Creativity

Job description

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 Sedgebrook Hall 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. 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 Sedgebrook Hall 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.

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 plate 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, celebrations 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.
• 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. 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.

Levy UK & Ireland is part of Compass Group, the world's largest catering and hospitality business. But we're not about being corporate for the sake of it. We're about great people, great food and creating experiences that guests remember. We want everyone to bring their own personality, ideas and individuality to work. We're proud to build inclusive teams where people can be themselves, develop their careers and have the opportunity to do their best work. If you're ready for your next challenge and want the opportunity to really put your stamp on a kitchen, we'd love to hear from you. Together, we create unforgettable experiences - and shape the future of hospitality.

Full-Time | Permanent | Up to 50,000 + Excellent Benefits, 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
• 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 Levy?