Hospitality Head Chef

Compass Group UK; Royal Borough of Greenwich; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Contributory pension scheme

Career Pathways and MyLearning

Digital GP and wider healthcare

Travel discounts with partner brands

Food discounts

Cinema discounts

Cash rewards

Wellness and fitness programs

Discounts for friends and family

Job summary

Compass Group UK in London is seeking a Head Chef to lead a premium corporate hospitality kitchen at St Paul’s. You’ll own menu development, cost control and team leadership for a 9-chef operation delivering restaurant-quality food at scale.

Role focuses on high standards, seasonal menus, and strong governance of purchasing, food safety and labour costs. Monday–Friday, 7:00am–3:30pm with overtime and weekends off; great development opportunities within the business.

Qualifications

• Proven Head Chef experience in premium corporate hospitality or similar.
• 2–3 years at Head Chef level or ambitious Senior Sous Chef.
• Experience delivering high-volume, fine dining or Michelin-level standards.
• Strong leadership, menu development and commercial management skills.
• Excellent attention to detail, creativity and seasonal focus.
• Hands-on leader who inspires a fast-paced team.

Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen operation, ensuring exceptional food quality, consistency and presentation.
• Develop seasonal menus, oversee menu costing and drive culinary innovation.
• Manage, motivate and develop the kitchen team, building a positive, high-performing culture.
• Take ownership of food purchasing, stock control, labour costs and waste management.
• Maintain the highest standards of food safety, hygiene and compliance.
• Work closely with the Executive Chef and wider hospitality team to deliver an outstanding dining experiences.
• Drive continuous improvement across food quality, operational efficiency and commercial performance.

Skills

Leadership

Menu development

Cost control

Food safety

Attention to detail

Hands-on leadership

Job description

Head Chef | St Paul’s, London

Ready to make your mark in a high-profile culinary environment? Join us as Head Chef and lead an exciting hospitality operation where creativity, quality and outstanding food are at the heart of everything we do.

Working hours: Monday–Friday, 7:00am–3:30pm (40 hours per week), with additional overtime available and weekends off!

The opportunity

We’re looking for an ambitious, passionate Head Chef to lead a high-profile corporate hospitality operation in the heart of St Paul’s, London.

This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of a busy, premium food operation, delivering exceptional food and service while leading and developing a talented team of 9 chefs.

The operation includes 30 private hospitality rooms, breakfast and à la carte dining, seasonal hot and cold buffets, conference and events catering for up to 250 guests, and a rooftop terrace. You’ll have the opportunity to showcase your creativity, develop innovative menus and deliver restaurant-quality food at scale.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen operation, ensuring exceptional food quality, consistency and presentation.
• Develop seasonal menus, oversee menu costing and drive culinary innovation.
• Manage, motivate and develop the kitchen team, building a positive, high-performing culture.
• Take ownership of food purchasing, stock control, labour costs and waste management.
• Maintain the highest standards of food safety, hygiene and compliance.
• Work closely with the Executive Chef and wider hospitality team to deliver an outstanding dining experiences.
• Drive continuous improvement across food quality, operational efficiency and commercial performance.

About you

• Proven experience as a Head Chef within premium corporate hospitality, high-end hotels, restaurants or contract catering.
• Ideally, two to three years’ experience at Head Chef level, or an ambitious Senior Sous Chef ready to step up.
• Experience delivering high-volume food to exceptional standards, with a fine dining or Michelin-starred background advantageous.
• Strong leadership, menu development and commercial management skills.
• Excellent attention to detail, creativity and a passion for seasonal food.
• A hands‑on approach with the ability to inspire a team and thrive in a fast‑paced environment.

Why join us?

• Lead a prestigious, high-profile corporate hospitality operation.
• Work with an established and talented culinary team.
• Enjoy a Monday–Friday working pattern.
• Make your mark through menu innovation and culinary excellence.
• Access opportunities for career development and progression within the business.

We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
• Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
• Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
• Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
• Un‑wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
• You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families

About Us

Restaurant Associates provides brilliant hospitality through our food, drink and services. We work with our partners and collaborate with our clients to achieve great things together. Every day, our teams of passionate hospitality professionals strive for excellence in delivering employee dining and hospitality to some of the UK's leading workplace as well as inspiring exceptional experiences in iconic cultural and heritage destinations.

Job Reference: com/0910/G77101/52838897/SU #RA Group

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 our full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!