Site Head Chef

Sodexo; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free lunch

Job summary

Sodexo is hiring a Site Head Chef for the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in Edinburgh. You will lead the culinary operation across cafés, venues and events, creating seasonal, field‑to‑fork menus inspired by Scottish produce and garden ingredients.

You will manage a large team, drive innovation, sustainability, and exceptional guest experiences while maintaining high food safety standards. Free lunch is provided and a strong bonus/benefits package is offered.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Head Chef in high‑volume hospitality or events.
• Experience in both retail catering and plated hospitality service.
• Strong menu development and food innovation skills.
• Good financial awareness including margins and labour costs.
• Lead, coach and develop kitchen teams; maintain high food standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the culinary operation across cafés, events and catering outlets.
• Develop seasonal menus showcasing Scottish produce from local gardens.
• Oversee food delivery for events, weddings and corporate functions.
• Manage purchasing, stock, menu costing and labour budgets.
• Ensure top food quality, presentation and sustainability.
• Recruit and develop a high‑performing culinary team; ensure safety compliance.

Skills

Head Chef experience

Retail catering

Menu development

Food safety HACCP

Financial awareness

Team leadership

Seasonal produce

Allergen management

Job description

The following content displays a map of the jobs location - Edinburgh

£45,000pa + excellent bonus and benefits

Working Hours:

40

Location:

Edinburgh

Closing Date:

27/09/2026

Job Category:

Chefs

UK Heritage Portfolio

Job Introduction

Site Head Chef

Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh

£45,000pa + excellent bonus and benefits

Free lunch

Job Introduction

Create exceptional food in one of Scotland's most iconic and inspiring destinations.

Are you a talented Head Chef looking for a role where creativity, sustainability, seasonality, and innovation are genuinely at the heart of the food offering?

Heritage Portfolio is seeking an ambitious and passionate Site Head Chef to lead the culinary operation at the world-renowned Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

This is a rare opportunity to put your own stamp on a truly unique venue, overseeing a diverse food operation that includes bustling cafés, premium events, weddings, corporate hospitality, seasonal experiences, mobile catering outlets, and exclusive dining events.

Working alongside the Garden's horticultural experts, you'll create exceptional menus inspired by the seasons, Scottish produce, and ingredients grown within the Royal Botanic Garden's own Kitchen Garden, delivering authentic field-to-fork experiences for thousands of visitors each year.

If you're a foodie through and through, thrive on innovation, love developing teams, and want a role where your creativity can flourish, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Do:

As Site Head Chef, you'll lead the culinary operation across the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh's cafés, hospitality spaces, events, staff dining facilities and mobile catering outlets. This is a hands‑on leadership role where you'll combine creativity, commercial awareness and people management to deliver exceptional food experiences for visitors, clients and guests.

• Lead and inspire the kitchen team, creating a culture of excellence, collaboration and continuous development.
• Develop innovative, seasonal menus that showcase the best of Scottish produce and ingredients grown within the RBGE Kitchen Garden.
• Work closely with the horticultural team to create authentic field-to-fork dining experiences.
• Oversee food delivery across cafés, hospitality events, weddings, corporate functions and seasonal activations.
• Create new food concepts, promotions and experiences that drive customer engagement and revenue growth.
• Manage food purchasing, stock control, menu costing and labour budgets to deliver strong commercial performance.
• Ensure outstanding food quality, presentation and consistency across every outlet and event.
• Champion sustainability initiatives, including responsible sourcing, waste reduction and environmentally conscious menu development.
• Recruit, coach and develop a high‑performing culinary team, supporting career progression and succession planning.
• Maintain the highest standards of food safety, health & safety and compliance across all kitchen operations.
• Work collaboratively with operational and retail teams to deliver an exceptional visitor experience.
• Support the continued growth and evolution of one of Scotland's most unique and prestigious hospitality destinations.

What You Bring:

You'll be a hands‑on leader who is equally comfortable leading a large service, developing menus, coaching chefs, or presenting new concepts to stakeholders.

• Proven experience as a Head Chef within a high‑volume hospitality, events, catering or visitor attraction environment
• Strong experience managing both retail catering and plated hospitality service
• Excellent menu development and food innovation skills
• Strong financial awareness with experience managing food margins and labour costsExperience leading, motivating and developing kitchen teams
• Passion for seasonal ingredients and exceptional food standards
• Strong understanding of food safety, allergen management HACCP

Highly Desirable

• Experience within visitor attractions, heritage venues, events or destination hospitality
• Multi‑site or multi‑outlet catering experience
• Strong sustainability credentials
• Advanced Food Hygiene and IOSH qualifications

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 the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100 million consumers each day through our unique combination of On‑Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services.

We are committed tobeingan inclusive employer. We are a forces friendly employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds, and identities. We encourage our employees to get involved with our Employee Networks such as Pride, Sodexo Parents & Carers, Sodexo Disability, Ability network, So Together, Generations and Origins.

Sodexo Disability, Ability network, So Together, Generations and Origins.

We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer. We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations.