Senior Sous Chef

Chartwells Independent; Greater London; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Personal development

Life assurance

Pension scheme

Holiday allowance

Wellbeing strategy

Health app access

Family friendly support

Holiday purchase scheme

Regular social events

Volunteering days

Recognition schemes

Long service awards

Discount vouchers

Job summary

Gather & Gather, part of Compass Group UK&I, is recruiting a Junior Sous Chef for the University of London (WC1 1AS). You will support the Head Chef in a high-volume university kitchen, lead a kitchen team, and ensure top-quality food and service across 350 breakfasts and 350 dinners daily.

Working 40 hours per week over 5 days, you’ll help plan menus, manage stock, monitor costs, and uphold food safety standards while delivering a memorable student dining experience.

Qualifications

• Experience in a high-volume catering, hospitality, education, or contract catering environment.
• Passion for modern food trends, international flavours, and menu innovation.
• Strong organisational and stock management skills.
• Good computer literacy and administrative ability.
• Ability to lead from the front and perform well in a fast-paced service environment.
• Knowledge of food safety legislation and best practice.

Responsibilities

• Support the Head Chef and Chef Manager with the day-to-day running of a busy university kitchen operation.
• Lead and motivate the kitchen team, ensuring high standards of food quality, presentation, and service are maintained at all times.
• Oversee the production and service of up to 350 breakfasts and 350 dinners daily.
• Manage a buffet-style food offer, including a popular pizza station operating from 9:00am to 7:00pm.
• Assist with menu planning and development, contributing fresh ideas for modern, international fusion cuisine and seasonal specials.
• Support the production of freshly made pastries, breads, and baked goods.
• Monitor food costs, waste, and stock levels to help achieve budget targets.
• Manage chef and office inventory, ensuring accurate stock control and ordering processes.
• Use computer systems confidently for ordering, stock management, reporting, and administration.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, health & safety, and allergen regulations.
• Maintain a clean, organised, and efficient kitchen environment.
• Build positive relationships with students, residents, and colleagues, delivering an exceptional dining experience.

Skills

High-volume catering

Leadership

Stock management

Computer literacy

Organisation

Food safety knowledge

Tools

Stock management software

Ordering systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Great food in the workplace isn’t simply about fuel.It’s about increasing productivity and improving performance; it’s about happy, motivated people and inspiring environments. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do – we live to bring food and people together.

We are brave, bold and curious adventurers in food and drink. Never shy of being different, always challenging the conventional.

Our passionate team of chefs, baristas, servers, nutritionists and much more, love nothing more than creating memorable moments that enrich the everyday.Come and join our award-winning teams – we are currently recruiting for a Junior Sous Chefto join our team at University of London.

Location: WC1 1AS, University of London, International Hall

Rate of Pay: £37,584 per annum

Shift Pattern: 5 over 7 days, 40 hours per week, 7.3 weeks annual leave per year

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the Head Chef and Chef Manager with the day-to-day running of a busy university kitchen operation.
• Lead and motivate the kitchen team, ensuring high standards of food quality, presentation, and service are maintained at all times.
• Oversee the production and service of up to 350 breakfasts and 350 dinners daily.
• Manage a buffet-style food offer, including a popular pizza station operating from 9:00am to 7:00pm.
• Assist with menu planning and development, contributing fresh ideas for modern, international fusion cuisine and seasonal specials.
• Support the production of freshly made pastries, breads, and baked goods.
• Monitor food costs, waste, and stock levels to help achieve budget targets.
• Manage chef and office inventory, ensuring accurate stock control and ordering processes.
• Use computer systems confidently for ordering, stock management, reporting, and administration.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, health & safety, and allergen regulations.
• Maintain a clean, organised, and efficient kitchen environment.
• Build positive relationships with students, residents, and colleagues, delivering an exceptional dining experience.

Requirements:

• Experience in a high-volume catering, hospitality, education, or contract catering environment.
• Passion for modern food trends, international flavours, and menu innovation.
• Strong organisational and stock management skills.
• Good computer literacy and administrative ability.
• Ability to lead from the front and perform well in a fast-paced service environment.
• Knowledge of food safety legislation and best practice.

What's in it for you?

Working with Gather & Gather has its perks! People are at the heart of everything we do, so we've developed a range of benefits to keep you happy.

• Personal Development and Training opportunities
• Life assurance scheme
• Pension scheme
• Holiday allowance
• A great wellbeing strategy – including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, salary finance
• Access to Healthcare Support App which includes Annual health check, Digital GP, Mental Health Consultations, Nutritional Consultations, Second Medical Opinion
• Family friendly support

• A holiday purchase scheme
• Regular social events and communication with our leaders
• Volunteering days
• Recognition schemes and people award
• Long service awards
• Access to some great high street discount vouchers

About Us

As part of Compass you'll help to feed people, fuel progress and forge connections in around 6,000 venues. Join us to grow your career with the industry leader, and get competitive pay, great perks and unrivalled opportunities for learning and development, at one of the UK's biggest businesses.

Job Reference: com/2708/42471001/52829345/SU #Gather and Gather

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