Head of Culinary

THE BAMFORD COLLECTION IS A GROUP OF CONSCIOUSLY MINDED LIFESTYLE BRANDS COMMITTED TO NOURISHING AND NURTURING PEOPLE AND PLANET. Join the Bamford Collection as our Head of Culinary. This is an exceptional opportunity to shape the culinary vision of one of the UK's most celebrated food and hospitality brands.

As Head of Culinary, you will lead the food strategy across the Bamford Collection, overseeing our restaurants, events, cookery school and hospitality operations in both the Cotswolds and London. Working closely with our senior leadership team and the founder, you will be responsible for delivering outstanding food experiences that celebrate Daylesford's organic philosophy, seasonal produce and uncompromising commitment to quality.

From developing innovative menus and nurturing exceptional culinary talent to driving operational excellence and commercial performance, you will play a pivotal role in the continued growth and success of the business. This is a unique opportunity to influence one of the UK's leading luxury food, farming and hospitality brands while inspiring teams to deliver exceptional guest experiences every day.

Location: Based at the Daylesford Farm in the Cotswolds, with the expectation of travel to London up to twice per week, as required by the role.

Competitive Salary plus Benefits

Key Responsibilities

• Culinary Strategy: Lead the culinary vision and menu strategy across all Daylesford food operations, ensuring menus are seasonal, commercially successful and showcase the very best of Daylesford's own produce. Drive innovation while maintaining consistency, operational excellence and the highest standards of food quality.
• Operational Excellence: Provide visible leadership across kitchens and food operations, coaching teams and ensuring exceptional culinary standards across all locations. Oversee food safety, health & safety, allergen management and regulatory compliance, ensuring robust systems and best practice are embedded throughout the business.
• Commercial Performance: Own food margin performance, working closely with Finance to manage budgets, forecasts and profitability. Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, enhance guest experience and drive commercial growth.
• Leadership & Development: Lead, inspire and develop high-performing culinary teams, creating a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement. Champion succession planning, leadership development and chef training across the business.
• Collaboration & Innovation: Partner with Events, Retail, Marketing, Finance and the Cookery School to deliver exceptional food experiences across every customer touchpoint. Develop engaging cookery school programmes and oversee the culinary delivery of events from concept through to execution. Build a trusted partnership with the business owner and contribute to wider strategic business decisions as a member of the senior leadership team.

Skills & Experience

• We're looking for an inspiring culinary leader with significant senior leadership experience across multi-site hospitality, luxury hotels, premium restaurants or food-led hospitality businesses.
• A proven track record of leading high-performing culinary teams while delivering exceptional guest experiences.
• Strong commercial acumen, with experience managing budgets, food margins, forecasting and operational performance.
• Extensive experience in menu development, balancing creativity, seasonality, operational practicality and profitability.
• Comprehensive knowledge of food safety, health & safety, allergen legislation and kitchen compliance.
• Exceptional leadership, coaching and mentoring skills with a passion for developing future culinary talent.
• Outstanding communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at executive level.
• A hands-on leadership style, equally comfortable shaping long-term strategy and supporting operational teams on the ground.

Why Join us?

At Daylesford, food is at the heart of everything we do. From our organic farm and award-winning restaurants to our farm shops, cookery school and luxury hospitality experiences, we are passionate about creating exceptional food with integrity. As Head of Culinary, you'll have the opportunity to shape the future of one of Britain's most respected food brands, working alongside passionate people who share a commitment to sustainability, craftsmanship and excellence.

PERKS & BENEFITS

• Discounts: We offer a range of discounts on our products, treatments, and dining experiences from day one.
• Local gym discounts
• Padel Discount
• Electric Car Scheme (subject to criteria)
• Volunteering Days: Employees are offered one paid day per year to volunteer with a charity of their choice.
• Private Medical: We offer subsidised private medical insurance through Bupa.
• Pension Scheme: Pay up to 9% of your salary into your pension each month; we contribute up to 4.5%.
• Life Assurance: We offer life assurance cover, equivalent of up to a year of your annual salary.
• Mental Health Support: Our Employee Assistance Programme provides 24-hour support, seven days a week.