Head Chef - Woldingham

Holroyd Howe; Tandridge; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

3 volunteering days to give back to CA

3 days grandparent leave

24 weeks enhanced maternity leave

Pension & life insurance

Discounts via Perkbox App

Wellbeing hub & EAP

Free meals while at work

Career development through apprentices

Job summary

Holroyd Howe is seeking a passionate Head Chef to lead the culinary team at Woldingham School. You will create exceptional menus, oversee kitchen operations, and deliver outstanding food experiences to pupils, staff and visitors.

Ideally, you will bring experience as an Executive/Head Chef in contract catering, preferably within independent education, with strong leadership, financial management, and a commitment to allergens and safety.

Qualifications

• Executive/Head Chef experience in contract catering
• Strong leadership and team management skills
• Passionate about fresh, quality ingredients and innovative menus
• Excellent organisational, communication, and financial management skills
• Knowledge of current food trends, sustainability, and allergen control

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen operations ensuring the highest standards of food quality, safety, and presentation
• Create innovative and seasonal menus tailored to the school's requirements
• Manage kitchen staff recruitment, training, and development
• Control budgets, stock, and supplier relationships efficiently
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, health & safety, and safeguarding policies
• Collaborate with the wider catering and school teams to deliver outstanding customer experiences
• Champion allergen controls in line with policies

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Budget management

Food safety

Menu development

Allergen control

Communication

Organisational skills

Financial management

Job description

We are seeking a passionate and experienced Head Chef to lead the culinary team at Woldingham school . You will be responsible for creating exceptional menus, managing kitchen operations, and delivering outstanding food experiences to our pupils, staff, and visitors.,

• Lead kitchen operations ensuring the highest standards of food quality, safety, and presentation
• Create innovative and seasonal menus tailored to the school's requirements
• Manage kitchen staff recruitment, training, and development
• Control budgets, stock, and supplier relationships efficiently
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, health & safety, and safeguarding policies
• Collaborate with the wider catering and school teams to deliver outstanding customer experiences
• Accountability for following and championing allergen controls, Our respectful codes of conduct inform how we behave towards our clients and customers, suppliers and business partners, and each other.

Fresh thinking New ideas for food, service and ways of working help us maintain our position as creative leaders in school catering. In order to be considered for this role you must be able to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK.

• Ideally, you will have experience as an Executive Chef or Head Chef within a contract catering environment, preferably in independent education, or a high-profile business and industry setting.
• Strong leadership and team management skills
• Passionate about fresh, quality ingredients and innovative menus
• Excellent organisational, communication, and financial management skills
• Knowledge of current food trends, sustainability, and allergen control

You will be joining Holroyd Howe, one of the UK's leading contract caterers, providing fresh innovative food services solely to independent schools and colleges. We are a team of experienced professionals who tailor our catering service provision specifically to suit children of all ages in order to meet the bespoke requirements of each school.

The safety and wellbeing of the people we serve is at the heart of everything we do. A key element is effective allergen management; achieved through training, communication, and care, we create mealtimes where every pupil has a safe experience. Our mission is simple: to provide our teams with the right skills to succeed in their job and our exceptional teams of seasoned specialists customise our catering services to fit children of all ages and satisfy the unique needs of our clients.

• 3 volunteering days to give back to causes you care about
• 3 days grandparent leave for those special family moments
• 24 weeks enhanced maternity leave
• Bespoke training & development opportunities
• Pension & life insurance
• Discounts on high street brands, cinema & holidays via the Perkbox App
• Wellbeing hub & access to employee assistance programme
• Free meals while at work
• Career development through apprenticeships for all experience levels.