Private Chef

Leaman Consulting; Greater London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Leaman Consulting is seeking an exceptional Private Chef for a private London household in South Kensington. The role requires a classically French-trained chef with at least 10 years of professional experience, especially in private households or high-profile environments.

Expect daily lunch and dinner, breakfast several mornings weekly, and a staff lunch for 3–4; confidentiality is essential. The position offers 80,000–90,000 GBP per year, with flexibility for evenings, weekends, and

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years' professional culinary experience.
• Classically French trained with strong technical foundations.
• Proven Private Chef experience for a high-profile UHNW family or fully staffed household.
• Exceptional pastry and baking skills including sourdough.
• Ability to source seasonal ingredients and craft varied menus.
• Full, clean driving licence; travel within Europe when required.
• Discretion and privacy of the family must be upheld.

Responsibilities

• Plan and prepare fresh, seasonal, predominantly organic meals for a family of four.
• Cook daily lunch and dinner; breakfast roughly three mornings per week.
• Provide fresh staff lunch for 3–4 members; adapt menus to tastes and dietary needs.
• Create varied menus aligned with family lifestyle and preferences.
• Demonstrate classical French techniques; specialty in pastry and baking.
• Source high-quality ingredients; manage kitchen stock, waste, and safety.
• Liaise with family and staff; maintain confidentiality and discretion.

Skills

Private chef

French cuisine

Pastry

Bread making

Sourdough

Menu planning

Kitchen management

Food safety

Discretion

Driving licence

Team player

Job description

Location: South Kensington London, UK

Salary: £80,000-£90,000 + negotiable depending on experience

Hours: Primarily Monday to Friday, working approximately 10-12 hours per day.

Some flexibility will be required for occasional evenings, weekends, entertaining and special occasions.

A private family of four is seeking an exceptional Private Chef to join their London household and take responsibility for the family's daily requirements.

The successful candidate will be a classically French trained chef, with a minimum of 10 years' professional experience and a strong background in private household or high-profile family environments. They will have excellent classical culinary foundations, alongside a particular strength in pastry, bread making and baking, including sourdough.

This is an opportunity for a highly skilled and passionate chef who takes genuine pride in sourcing the finest seasonal ingredients and creating fresh, beautifully prepared and thoughtfully presented food. The Chef will be expected to bring creativity and expertise to the kitchen while remaining sensitive to the family's individual tastes and preferences.

The Chef will cook daily lunch and dinner for the family, prepare breakfast approximately three mornings per week, and provide a fresh lunch for 3-4 members of staff. Discretion, reliability, flexibility and a calm, professional approach are essential.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plan and prepare fresh, seasonal and predominantly organic meals for a family of four.
• Prepare daily lunch and dinner, with breakfast approximately three mornings per week.
• Prepare a fresh, nutritious and well-presented staff lunch for 3-4 members of household staff.
• Create varied and inspiring menus tailored to the family's tastes, preferences and lifestyle.
• Apply strong classical French culinary techniques across day-to-day cooking and entertaining.
• Demonstrate excellent pastry and baking skills, including the preparation of fresh bread and sourdough.
• Source and purchase the finest seasonal and organic ingredients, maintaining exceptional standards of quality and freshness.
• Cater for everyday family meals, as well as occasional dinner parties, entertaining and special occasions.
• Confidently accommodate dietary requirements, allergies and nutritional preferences.
• Maintain a clean, organised and impeccably hygienic kitchen at all times.
• Manage food stock, including ordering, rotation, storage and minimising waste.
• Maintain excellent food safety and hygiene standards.
• Liaise effectively with the family and other household staff.
• Adapt menus and meal times according to the family's schedule and requirements.
• Maintain complete confidentiality and discretion at all times.
• Be flexible to travel with the family during the summer months when required within Europe.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum 10 years' professional culinary experience.
• Classically French trained, with strong technical culinary foundations.
• Proven experience working as a Private Chef for a high-profile or UHNW family, ideally within a fully staffed private household.
• Exceptional cooking skills with a strong understanding of classical techniques and a broad knowledge of cuisines.
• Excellent pastry and baking skills, including bread making and sourdough.
• A genuine passion for exceptional produce, seasonal cooking and beautifully presented food.
• Strong menu planning, organisation and kitchen management skills.
• Experience catering for both principals and staff.
• Ability to work independently and manage all aspects of the kitchen efficiently.
• Comfortable working alongside other household staff as part of a professional team.
• Excellent attention to detail and consistently high standards.
• Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to respond calmly to changing schedules and requirements.
• Professional, warm, personable and discreet manner.
• Full, clean driving licence.

PERSONAL QUALITIES

The ideal candidate will be:

• Warm, personable and professional.
• Calm and composed, even when working under pressure.
• Highly organised, self-motivated and efficient.
• Discreet and respectful of the family's privacy.
• Reliable and trustworthy.
• Passionate about their craft and proud of the food they produce.
• Flexible and accommodating, with a genuine understanding of private household life.
• Intuitive and attentive to the family's preferences, with the ability to anticipate their requirements.
• A confident team player who enjoys working alongside other household staff.

This is a long-term opportunity for an exceptional Chef seeking a professional and respectful private household environment.