Site Head Chef

Compass Group UK; Royston; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Contributory pension

Career development programmes

Digital GP & wider healthcare benefits

Exclusive travel discounts

Discounts on groceries

Cinema ticket discounts

Cash rewards program

Wellness and fitness classes

Family and friend discounts

Job summary

Compass Group UK&I is seeking a Site Head Chef to lead five kitchens at Bassingbourn Barracks, delivering high-quality meals to up to 500 personnel and ensuring audit-ready standards. You will mentor Apprentice Chefs, manage stock and budgets, and work with site stakeholders to maintain operational excellence across a large catering operation.

This role offers a structured environment with leadership responsibilities, overtime for events, and career development within a leading on-site

Qualifications

• Hold City & Guilds 706/1 & 706/2, NVQ Level 3 Professional Cookery or equivalent.
• Experience as Head Chef/Executive/Senior Chef in contract catering, defence, education, healthcare or high-volume hospitality.
• Experience managing multiple teams or large-scale catering operations.
• Strong leadership with a passion for coaching and developing others.
• Knowledge of Food Safety legislation and HACCP procedures.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee day-to-day operation of five kitchens across the site.
• Ensure meals meet menus, dietary requirements, and service standards.
• Coach and develop kitchen teams including Apprentice Chefs.
• Maintain high standards of food quality and presentation.
• Monitor stock, orders, inventory, and waste; control costs.
• Ensure compliance with Food Safety, Health & Safety and company procedures.
• Maintain audit-ready standards and cleaning schedules.
• Manage kitchen budgets and support financial performance.
• Support catering for site functions and events with overtime as needed.
• Serve as senior culinary lead and build relationships with stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Food safety & HACCP

Budget management

Stock management

Communication

Organisational skills

Mentoring

Education

City & Guilds 706/1 & 706/2, NVQ Level 3 Pro Cookery or equivalent

Job description

Site Head Chef - Bassingbourn Barracks

Salary: £36,000 per annum
40 Hours per Week | Overtime Available for Functions

We’re looking for an experienced Site Head Chef to lead the catering operation at Bassingbourn Barracks, overseeing multiple kitchen facilities and delivering high-quality food services to a military population of up to 500 personnel.

This is an excellent opportunity for a strong culinary leader who thrives in a structured environment and enjoys managing teams, developing junior chefs, and maintaining exceptional standards across a large catering operation. Working alongside Apprentice Chefs and kitchen teams, you'll be responsible for ensuring consistent food quality, compliance, and operational excellence across five kitchens on site.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the day-to-day operation of five kitchens across the site
• Ensure all meals are prepared and served in line with agreed menus, dietary requirements, and service standards
• Manage, coach, and develop kitchen teams, including Apprentice Chefs
• Create a positive, organised, and high-performing kitchen culture
• Monitor food quality, presentation, and consistency across all service areas
• Manage stock ordering, inventory control, and food wastage effectively
• Ensure all kitchens remain compliant with Food Safety, Health & Safety, and company procedures
• Maintain audit-ready standards and ensure all cleaning schedules are completed
• Manage kitchen budgets and support financial performance through effective cost controls
• Support and deliver catering for site functions and events, with overtime available for additional function work
• Act as the senior culinary lead on site and build strong relationships with key stakeholders

What We're Looking For

• City & Guilds 706/1 & 706/2, NVQ Level 3 Professional Cookery, or equivalent qualification
• Proven experience as a Head Chef, Executive Chef, or Senior Chef within contract catering, defence, education, healthcare, or high-volume hospitality
• Experience managing multiple teams or large-scale catering operations
• Strong leadership skills with a passion for coaching and developing others
• Experience managing stock, budgets, food costs, and kitchen compliance
• Ability to remain organised and calm in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent understanding of food safety legislation and HACCP procedures
• Strong communication and people-management skills
• A hands-on approach with a commitment to delivering quality food and service

Why Apply?

• £36,000 per annum for a 40-hour contract
• Overtime opportunities available through site functions and events
• Lead a large and varied catering operation serving up to 500 clients daily
• Opportunity to mentor and develop Apprentice Chefs
• Stable and secure contract catering environment
• Career development opportunities within a leading food service provider
• A leadership role with real impact on both team development and service delivery

This is an ideal opportunity for a passionate and experienced chef looking to take ownership of a significant on-site catering operation while developing the next generation of culinary talent.

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

Part of Compass Group UK&I, ESS is the Defence, Government, and Energy services sector of Compass Group UK & Ireland. We support 250+ UK military establishments, high profile police, secure environments and government sites, along with a range of onshore and offshore facilities including platforms, drilling rigs, floatels and offices for the energy sector. We know that a friendly face makes all the difference, so we look for people who are passionate about delivering excellent customer service, at all levels, to join our teams.

Job Reference: com/0809/96047001/52685958/SU #Defence

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!