At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and elevate kitchen teams in London's top venues, ensuring exceptional food quality and standards.
- Company: Join The Columbo Group, a vibrant hospitality leader with a passion for people and food.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, staff discounts, and ongoing training in a creative environment.
- Other info: Fast career progression in a collaborative, people-focused atmosphere.
- Why this job: Shape kitchen culture and develop future culinary leaders in exciting venues.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in multi-site chef leadership and strong coaching skills required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
We're looking for an exceptional Group Head Chef to lead, develop, and elevate kitchen teams across some of London's most loved hospitality venues, including The Blues Kitchen, The Jazz Cafe, and The Old Queen's Head. This is a senior leadership role for a passionate, people first operator who thrives in high volume hospitality and genuinely loves being in kitchens, around teams, and in service. This is not an office based role — we're looking for someone hands on, present, and visible in venues every week, coaching teams in real time and leading from the floor. Working closely with our Executive Chef, the mission of this role is built around three core pillars:
- Standards — exceptional kitchen organisation, cleanliness, compliance, and audit performance;
- Consistency — strong training, development, leadership, and people practices across every site;
- Quality — delivering consistently outstanding food and guest experiences.
Reporting into the Executive Chef, you'll work closely with the CEOs, Head of Operations, Head of People, Head Chefs, and General Managers to build high performing kitchens, develop future leaders, and strengthen food operations across the group.
Key Responsibilities
- Leadership & Development
- Coach, mentor, and develop Head Chefs into confident, high performing leaders.
- Build clear development pathways and succession plans across kitchen teams.
- Lead regular 1-2-1s, performance reviews, and career conversations.
- Support recruitment, onboarding, retention and team engagement.
- Foster positive, accountable kitchen cultures aligned with company values.
- Lead by example in standards, behaviour and leadership style.
- Standards & Operations
- Drive exceptional standards of cleanliness, organisation and kitchen operations.
- Conduct regular site visits, audits and operational reviews.
- Ensure consistency in food quality, presentation and service execution.
- Maintain strong food hygiene, HACCP, allergen and health & safety standards.
- Ensure kitchens are efficient, structured, and aligned with company expectations.
- Performance & Financials
- Support Head Chefs in understanding and owning kitchen financial performance.
- Drive improvements in GP, labour efficiency and cost control.
- Review reporting and coach teams to improve operational performance.
- Support effective stock control, ordering and supplier management.
- Food & Quality
- Ensure food quality is consistently delivered at a high standard across all sites.
- Support kitchens in executing menus efficiently and consistently.
What We're Looking For
- Proven experience in a senior multi site chef or operational leadership role.
- A hands on leader who genuinely enjoys being in kitchens and developing teams.
- Strong coaching, mentoring and people development capability.
- Experience improving team performance, engagement and retention.
- Commercial understanding of kitchen financials and operational performance.
- Calm, organised and solutions focused under pressure.
- Excellent communication and relationship building skills.
- Passion for hospitality, standards, consistency and food quality.
Why Join The Columbo Group?
- The opportunity to shape kitchen culture across some of London's most exciting hospitality venues.
- A genuine platform to develop people and build future culinary leaders.
- Career progression within a fast growing independent hospitality group.
- A collaborative, creative and people focused environment.
- Staff discounts across The Columbo Group venues.
- Competitive salary package.
- Ongoing training and development opportunities.
Group Head Chef employer: Columbo Group
The Columbo Group is an exceptional employer, offering the chance to lead and inspire kitchen teams in some of London's most beloved venues. With a strong focus on people development, you will have the opportunity to shape kitchen culture, foster future culinary leaders, and enjoy a collaborative work environment that prioritises creativity and staff engagement. Additionally, competitive salaries, ongoing training, and generous staff discounts make this a rewarding place to grow your career in hospitality.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Group Head Chef
✨Tip Number 1
Get out there and network! Attend industry events, pop into local venues, and chat with other chefs and hospitality professionals. Building relationships can open doors to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion for the role by being hands-on. When you’re in the kitchen, let your enthusiasm shine through. Whether it’s cooking a dish or mentoring a team member, being present and engaged will make you stand out.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just wait for job openings; create your own opportunities! Reach out directly to venues you admire, like The Blues Kitchen or The Jazz Cafe, and express your interest in working with them. A proactive approach can really pay off.
✨Tip Number 4
Utilise our website to apply for roles. We’ve got a range of exciting positions available, and applying through us ensures your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing passionate candidates who fit our culture!
We think you need these skills to ace Group Head Chef
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Hospitality:When writing your application, let your love for the kitchen and hospitality shine through. Share specific experiences that highlight your hands-on approach and how you’ve developed teams in high-pressure environments.
Highlight Leadership Skills:Make sure to emphasise your leadership style and how you've successfully coached and mentored others. Use examples that demonstrate your ability to build strong kitchen cultures and develop future leaders.
Be Specific About Standards and Quality:We want to see your commitment to exceptional standards and food quality. Include details about how you've maintained cleanliness, compliance, and consistency in previous roles to show you understand what it takes to excel in this position.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and get to know you better. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Columbo Group
✨Know Your Venues
Before the interview, make sure you research The Blues Kitchen, The Jazz Cafe, and The Old Queen's Head. Understand their unique offerings and what makes them special. This will show your genuine interest in the role and help you connect your experience to their specific needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Be prepared to discuss your leadership approach and how you've successfully developed kitchen teams in the past. Share specific examples of how you've coached Head Chefs or improved team performance, as this aligns perfectly with the expectations for the Group Head Chef role.
✨Emphasise Standards and Quality
Highlight your commitment to maintaining high standards in kitchen operations. Discuss your experience with food hygiene, HACCP, and how you've ensured consistency in food quality across multiple sites. This will demonstrate that you understand the core pillars of the role.
✨Prepare Questions
Have a few thoughtful questions ready to ask during the interview. Inquire about their vision for kitchen culture or how they measure success in their venues. This shows that you're not just interested in the job, but also in contributing to the company's future.
