Head chef - Production in Ruislip

Head Chef – Events Production Kitchen
London | Permanent | Full-time
Change Hospitality are delighted to be recruiting for an experienced Head Chef to lead the production kitchen of a prestigious London events company.
This is an exciting opportunity for a talented and commercially minded Head Chef to take ownership of a dynamic production kitchen, delivering exceptional food for a diverse range of events, from corporate functions and private dining to large-scale receptions, parties and premium hospitality experiences.
We're looking for a hands-on leader who combines culinary creativity with strong operational management, understands the demands of high-volume food production and can ensure exceptional quality, consistency and presentation across every event.
The Role
As Head Chef, you'll take full responsibility for the day-to-day running of the production kitchen, overseeing all aspects of food preparation, production and delivery. You'll lead and develop the kitchen team, ensuring menus are executed to the highest standards while meeting the operational demands of a busy events schedule.
You'll be responsible for:
Leading, motivating and developing the kitchen brigade, creating a positive and high-performing team culture.
Overseeing large-scale food production for a varied programme of events, ensuring quality, consistency and presentation are maintained at volume.
Planning and coordinating production schedules in line with event briefs, guest numbers, deadlines and delivery requirements.
Developing creative, seasonal and commercially viable menus tailored to different clients, occasions and event styles.
Managing food costs, budgets, purchasing, stock control and wastage to maximise profitability.
Working closely with the events, sales and operations teams to ensure seamless planning and delivery.
Maintaining exceptional food safety, hygiene and health and safety standards, including HACCP compliance.
Building strong relationships with suppliers and ensuring the consistent sourcing of quality ingredients.
Implementing efficient production systems, preparation schedules and processes to maximise kitchen productivity.
Driving sustainability initiatives, reducing food waste and promoting responsible sourcing.
Ensuring all dietary requirements, allergens and special requests are managed accurately and safely.
Maintaining a hands-on approach, supporting the team during peak production periods and ensuring every event is delivered to specification.
About You
We're looking for an experienced Head Chef who thrives in a fast-paced, production-led environment and understands the unique challenges of delivering food for events at scale.
You'll ideally have:
Previous Head Chef or senior kitchen management experience within an events catering company, production kitchen, contract catering or high-volume hospitality operation.
Proven experience managing large-scale food production for events with varying guest numbers and service styles.
The ability to lead, motivate and develop a sizeable kitchen team.
Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple event briefs, production schedules and deadlines simultaneously.
Excellent knowledge of food production techniques, menu planning and large-scale preparation.
A strong understanding of food costing, budgeting, stock management and commercial performance.
A thorough knowledge of food safety, HACCP, allergen management and health and safety procedures.
A passion for seasonal ingredients, quality-led cooking and delivering memorable food experiences.
Excellent communication skills and the ability to build strong working relationships across kitchen, events and operational teams.
A calm, solutions-focused approach, with the ability to adapt quickly when requirements change.
A hands-on leadership style and a genuine commitment to developing people and maintaining high standards.
Most importantly, you'll be someone who takes pride in delivering exceptional food, enjoys the pace and variety of event catering, and understands that success comes from meticulous planning, teamwork and flawless execution.
What's on Offer?
£59,000 annual salary
Permanent, full-time position
A range of employee benefits and wellbeing support
Opportunities for training and professional development
Staff discounts and hospitality benefits
The opportunity to work with quality suppliers and seasonal produce
A supportive and progressive working environment
The chance to lead and shape a busy events production kitchen
The Opportunity
This is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious Head Chef to join an established London events company and play a key role in its continued success.
With a varied calendar of events and a strong focus on quality, consistency and client satisfaction, you'll have the opportunity to influence menus, develop production processes and lead a talented team in delivering outstanding food experiences.
If you're a commercially aware, organised and passionate Head Chef who thrives on the challenge of high-volume production and event catering, we'd 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 strive to ensure every employee feels valued, respected and supported. We believe a diverse workforce strengthens our organisation and enhances our ability to deliver excellence.

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