Sous Chef

Gather + Gather; Oxford; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life assurance scheme

Pension scheme

Holiday allowance

Wellbeing strategy

Job summary

Gather + Gather in Oxford is seeking a Hospitality Sous Chef to lead high-quality catering for conferences, meetings and events, handling 50 to 450 covers. You will oversee buffets, canapés, fine dining and banqueting, supporting the Head Chef to maintain exceptional standards and service.

This full-time role at Oxford Brookes University offers personal development and a competitive salary of £35,000 per year, with a benefits package including pension and life assurance.

Qualifications

• Experience leading catering for conferences and large events.
• Strong knowledge of food safety and HACCP principles.
• Proven ability to manage a kitchen team and training juniors.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-quality catering for conferences and events (50–450 covers).
• Deliver buffets, canapés, fine dining and banqueting.
• Support Head Chef in managing service and maintaining standards.
• Ensure cost control and food safety compliance.
• Mentor junior chefs and foster team collaboration.
• Be flexible to cover evenings and weekend events.

Skills

Leadership

Food safety

Event catering

Team management

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 Hospitality Sous Chef to join our team.

Salary

£35,000 per annuum

Location

Oxford Brookes University

Shift Pattern

5 over 7, 40 hours per week

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of high-quality hospitality catering for conferences, meetings, and events ranging from 50-450 covers.
• Produce and oversee a variety of hospitality offers, including buffets, canapés, fine dining, and banqueting.
• Support the Head Chef and Executive Chef in managing service and maintaining exceptional food standards.
• Ensure cost-effective operations, food safety compliance, and strong attention to detail.
• Work collaboratively as part of the wider kitchen team, providing support and guidance to junior chefs.
• Utilise previous conference and banqueting experience to deliver outstanding hospitality experiences.
• Be flexible to support evening and weekend events as required.

What's in it for you?

• 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/0211/48598001/52797610/IN/SU #GatherandGather

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!