Lead Events Chef

Sodexo; London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Sodexo seeks a dynamic Lead Events Chef to oversee high-quality culinary delivery at prestigious events in London. The role requires a skilled leader to manage a team, ensure exceptional service, and innovate menu offerings, making it ideal for those passionate about high-end dining experiences.

Benefits

Mental health and wellbeing support

Employee Assistance Programme

Health and wellbeing app

Discounts and cashback options

Financial benefits via Salary Finance

Retirement Plan

Death-in-Service benefit

Career growth opportunities

Flexible work environment

Competitive compensation

Qualifications

• Experience in high-volume events or banqueting.
• Fine dining background in substantial businesses like hotels.
• Experience leading a kitchen team.

Responsibilities

• Lead culinary aspects across high-profile events.
• Manage kitchen operations and compliance with food safety.
• Collaborate with event managers to ensure smooth execution.

Skills

Communication

Organizational skills

Culinary skills

Education

Intermediate level Food Hygiene qualification

Supervising Food Safely Level 3 qualification

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Job Description

• Job Title: Lead Events Chef
• Location: Royal Academy of Arts
• £50,000 Salary + up to 10% bonus
• 40hrs pw, 5 over 7, early mornings - late evenings

Job Introduction

Heritage Portfolio is delighted to be recruiting for a dynamic Lead Events Chef. This role is perfect for someone looking to take the next step up!

Reporting into the Head of Events, you will lead all culinary aspects of events across 5 cultural destinations: the Wallace Collection, The Royal Academy of Arts, Trinity House, Lancaster House, and Insurance Hall. Your focus will be to drive excellence in food preparation, safety, and service across all events and client tastings. The successful candidate will be able to work independently and manage a team of 9 while upholding high operational and food safety standards, ensuring timely, quality delivery that exceeds client expectations.

This role is ideal for someone interested in working high-end events serving high-profile guests in historic buildings.

If you're passionate about leading a dynamic kitchen team and delivering exceptional culinary experiences, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Do:

• Understand and embody the vision of Sodexo Live and Heritage Portfolio to ensure consistent, high-quality event delivery.
• Participate in menu design, innovation, costing, and specification, supporting revenue growth, PR, and client satisfaction.
• Lead kitchen operations daily, including managing casual labour, kitchen organisation, and compliance with food safety, allergen, and waste policies.
• Oversee menu photography and clearly articulate food, equipment, service flow, and customer experience for each event.
• Manage ordering to meet event specifications, budgets, and minimise waste, following established procedures.
• Collaborate closely with event managers on-site and at SQ to build strong, positive business relationships.
• Ensure strict adherence to all company and client policies, including health & safety, hygiene, HR, and statutory regulations, and report incidents promptly.
• Participate in training, team meetings, and additional duties as assigned by senior craft team members.

What You Bring:

Essential

• Demonstrable experience in a high-volume environment—major events or banqueting operation
• Fine dining background gained in hotels, restaurants, or contract catering
• A passionate interest in the catering industry—knowledge of current trends, well-read, eats out in interesting restaurants regularly, talks about and gets excited about food
• A competent communicator with the ability to present to colleagues, peers, and clients
• Financial awareness and understanding of a food profit and loss account, with the ability to control food costs and generate a positive food margin
• Evidence of being organised and possessing excellent planning skills
• An intermediate level Food Hygiene qualification
• Ability to competently use Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Proven ability to manage and lead a team of chefs

Desirable

• Supervising Food Safely Level 3 qualification
• IOSH Managing Safely or similar qualification
• Previous Sous chef or Head chef role in a smaller operation
• Experience in retail food operations
• Production kitchen knowledge and/or experience
• Experience working with clients in contract catering
• Experience in staff upskilling

What we offer:

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it's a chance to be part of something greater. You'll belong to a company and team that values you for you; you'll act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions; and you'll be able to thrive in your own way. We offer a range of resources, rewards, and benefits for our colleagues and their families:

• Unlimited access to an online platform offering mental health and wellbeing support.
• Employee Assistance Programme for support with issues including legal, financial, work-related, or personal matters.
• A free health and wellbeing app with rewards, a 24hr virtual GP, and other services.
• The Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering great deals and cashback options.
• Money Insights and financial benefits via the Salary Finance Platform.
• Sodexo Retirement Plan for future savings.
• Death-in-Service benefit.
• Opportunities for career growth and development, including various learning tools.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Volunteering Opportunities.
• Flexible, dynamic work environment.
• Competitive compensation.
• Full training and protective uniform supplied.

Ready to be part of something greater? Apply today! Career progression for the caring profession.

Sodexo reserves the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of applications.

About Sodexo

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better every day for everyone to build a better life for all. As the global leader in services that improve Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100 million consumers daily through our services in Food, Facilities Management, Benefits & Rewards, and Personal & Home Services.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer. We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We encourage involvement in our Employee Networks such as Pride, Sodexo Parents & Carers, Sodexo Disability, and others.

We are a Disability Confident Leader employer, committed to changing attitudes towards disability and ensuring disabled people can fulfill their aspirations. We run a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria.

Click here to learn more about our inclusive culture.