At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a talented kitchen team, innovate menus, and oversee culinary operations for luxury events.
- Company: Join a top-tier London catering company known for exceptional events and culinary creativity.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, private medical insurance, daily meals, and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic environment where your culinary passion meets strategic leadership in high-end hospitality.
- Qualifications: Significant experience as a senior chef in luxury catering with strong leadership and organisational skills.
- Other info: This is a confidential role; first-stage interviews may be off-site.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 85000 £ per year.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a visionary Executive Chef to join one of London’s most respected luxury catering companies, renowned for its exceptional events, bespoke workplace dining, and culinary innovation. This caterer has become a creative powerhouse in high-end hospitality, with expanding services across large-scale private and corporate events, and catering.
This confidential hire is crucial to the company’s next phase of growth, with a strong focus on corporate catering, operational excellence, and product innovation, while still staying true to the business’s heritage of crafting unforgettable food for fabulous occasions.
About the Role:
As Executive Chef, you will lead and inspire a highly skilled kitchen brigade and development team. The role combines strategic kitchen leadership, menu development, and operational oversight with hands-on involvement in the kitchen. You’ll work closely with the senior leadership team to evolve culinary offerings across the business – from luxury workplace lunches to high-profile events – ensuring creativity, consistency, and operational excellence at every touchpoint. This is a hybrid role, ideal for a chef who enjoys balancing the creative and administrative aspects of running a best-in-class kitchen, while remaining a visible and influential presence on the pass.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and mentor the kitchen, development, and production teams to deliver across events, workplace dining, and special culinary projects.
- Oversee all culinary operations, ensuring quality, cost control, and consistency across high-volume and high-standard output.
- Drive menu innovation and seasonal planning across multiple sectors, maintaining the brand’s signature flair and luxury positioning.
- Collaborate with client-facing teams to ensure culinary delivery exceeds expectations.
- Be actively involved in kitchen operations, including tastings, production, and event execution where needed.
- Lead on kitchen systems, documentation, costing, compliance, and people planning.
- Champion a positive, professional, and growth-oriented culture within the kitchen and wider business.
- Stay ahead of culinary trends, sustainability practices, and customer expectations.
About You:
- Significant experience in a senior kitchen leadership role (Head or Exec Chef level) within luxury event catering, contract catering, or premium hospitality.
- Strong knowledge of large-scale catering, high-volume service, and complex logistics.
- Natural leadership skills with a collaborative, calm, and composed management style.
- Commercially savvy – confident managing budgets, GP, planning, and supplier relationships.
- Exceptional organisation and time management – able to juggle both hands-on work and strategic admin.
- Passion for beautiful food with high attention to detail and presentation.
- Forward-thinking with a desire to innovate and push boundaries across sectors.
- Familiar with the pace, complexity, and expectations of a high-end multi-service culinary business.
Package & Benefits:
- £75,000 – £80,000 per annum (depending on experience)
- Excellent work-life balance relative to the events industry
- Private medical insurance
- Bonus scheme
- Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programme
- Daily cooked meals at work
- Opportunities for professional development and internal growth
- Dynamic, creative and fast-paced working environment in a highly respected business
This is a confidential vacancy due to internal planning. First-stage interviews may be held off-site. If you are a confident and capable executive-level chef with both creative passion and commercial acumen, we would love to hear from you.
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. Change Hospitality is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences, and we strive to ensure that every employee feels valued, respected, and supported. We believe that a diverse workforce strengthens our organisation and enhances our ability to deliver excellence.
Executive Chef employer: Change Hospitality
Contact Detail:
Change Hospitality Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Executive Chef
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the luxury catering industry. Attend culinary events, workshops, or food festivals where you can meet potential colleagues and employers. Building relationships can often lead to job opportunities that aren't publicly advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your culinary creativity by sharing your work on social media platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn. Post photos of your dishes, menu innovations, and any events you've catered. This not only highlights your skills but also demonstrates your passion for the culinary arts.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay updated on the latest culinary trends and sustainability practices. Being knowledgeable about current trends will help you stand out during interviews and show that you're forward-thinking and ready to innovate within the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you manage a kitchen team. Be ready to provide examples of how you've successfully led teams in high-pressure environments, as this is crucial for the Executive Chef role.
We think you need these skills to ace Executive Chef
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in luxury event catering and kitchen leadership. Emphasise any roles where you managed teams, oversaw culinary operations, or innovated menu offerings.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for culinary excellence and your vision for the role. Mention specific achievements in previous positions that align with the responsibilities of an Executive Chef.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: In your application, provide examples of how you've led and mentored kitchen teams. Highlight your ability to balance hands-on cooking with strategic planning and operational oversight.
Demonstrate Industry Knowledge: Include insights into current culinary trends and sustainability practices in your application. This shows that you are forward-thinking and aware of the evolving expectations in high-end catering.
How to prepare for a job interview at Change Hospitality
✨Showcase Your Culinary Vision
As an Executive Chef, it's crucial to demonstrate your unique culinary vision during the interview. Prepare to discuss your approach to menu innovation and how you can elevate the brand's offerings while maintaining its luxury positioning.
✨Highlight Leadership Experience
Emphasise your leadership skills and experience in managing a kitchen brigade. Share specific examples of how you've mentored teams, fostered a positive culture, and driven operational excellence in previous roles.
✨Discuss Budget Management
Be ready to talk about your experience with budget management and cost control. Provide examples of how you've successfully managed supplier relationships and maximised profitability without compromising on quality.
✨Stay Ahead of Trends
Demonstrate your knowledge of current culinary trends and sustainability practices. Discuss how you plan to incorporate these trends into your menu development and overall kitchen operations to keep the company at the forefront of the industry.