Sous Chef

Compass Group PLC; Gosport; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Contributory pension

Career Pathways

Digital GP

Travel discounts

Retail discounts

Cinema tickets

Cash rewards

Wellness classes

Family discounts

Job summary

Compass Group UK&I ESS is seeking an experienced, hands-on Sous Chef to lead our catering operation for Service Personnel in a fast-paced, structured environment. You’ll be on the tools, supporting your team, and delivering high-quality meals while leading daily feeding and function activities.

You’ll develop the team, ensure food hygiene and safety, manage stock and budgets, and maintain presentation and service standards across high-volume service.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a Sous Chef or Senior Chef role.
• Hands-on leader who works with their team.
• Strong organisational and communication skills.
• Ability to manage a small team effectively.
• Calm under pressure in a high-volume catering environment.
• Reliable, flexible, and able to adapt to changing weekly schedules.
• A safety‑first mindset with a genuine passion for food.

Responsibilities

• Preparing and delivering high-quality, nutritious meals for Service Personnel.
• Leading from the front in a hands‑on Sous Chef role.
• Managing daily feeding and function activities.
• Supporting, motivating, and developing a team.
• Ensuring excellent food presentation, consistency, and service standards.
• Managing food ordering, stock control, and minimising waste.
• Maintaining the highest standards of food hygiene, cleanliness, and safety.
• Managing budgets and ensuring financial targets are met.
• Ensuring full compliance with Food Safety and Health & Safety regulations.

Skills

Leadership

Organisational skills

Communication

Team management

Calm under pressure

Reliability & flexibility

Food safety

Job description

We're looking for an experienced, hands‑on Sous Chef to lead our catering operation. This is a fantastic opportunity for a strong kitchen leader who enjoys being on the tools, supporting their team, and delivering high-quality food in a fast-paced, structured environment. You'll be responsible for daily feeding and function activities while leading and developing a dedicated team. What you'll be doing

Responsibilities

• Preparing and delivering high-quality, nutritious meals for Service Personnel
• Leading from the front in a hands‑on Sous Chef role
• Managing daily feeding and function activities
• Supporting, motivating, and developing a team
• Ensuring excellent food presentation, consistency, and service standards
• Managing food ordering, stock control, and minimising waste
• Maintaining the highest standards of food hygiene, cleanliness, and safety
• Managing budgets and ensuring financial targets are met
• Ensuring full compliance with Food Safety and Health & Safety regulations

Requirements

• Proven experience in a Sous Chef or Senior Chef role
• A hands‑on leader who enjoys working alongside their team
• Strong organisational and communication skills
• The ability to manage a small team effectively and responsibly
• Calm under pressure and confident in a high-volume catering environment
• Reliable, flexible, and able to adapt to changing weekly schedules
• A safety‑first mindset with a genuine passion for food

About the company

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.

Benefits

• 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