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 people-first approach.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, staff discounts, and ongoing training opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic role with excellent career progression in a fast-growing independent group.
- Why this job: Shape kitchen culture and develop future culinary leaders in an exciting environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in senior chef roles and strong leadership 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 in London 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, enjoy competitive salaries, and benefit from ongoing training in a collaborative and creative environment. Join us to make a meaningful impact while enjoying staff discounts and clear pathways for career progression within a fast-growing independent hospitality group.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Group Head Chef in London
✨Tip Number 1
Get out there and network! Attend industry events, pop into local venues, and chat with other chefs. Building relationships can open doors to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills in real-time! Consider doing a trial shift or a guest chef appearance at a venue you admire. It’s a great way to demonstrate your leadership style and culinary expertise.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of social media! Share your culinary creations and experiences on platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn. It’s a fantastic way to showcase your passion and connect with potential employers.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply directly through our website! We love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in our venues. Tailor your application to highlight how you can elevate our kitchen teams and culture.
We think you need these skills to ace Group Head Chef in London
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 ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity to shape kitchen culture across our venues.
How to prepare for a job interview at Columbo Group
✨Know Your Venues
Before the interview, take some time to research The Blues Kitchen, The Jazz Cafe, and The Old Queen's Head. Understand their menus, vibe, and what makes them special. This will show your genuine interest and help you connect your experience with their unique offerings.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Be ready 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 role is all about leading from the front and fostering a positive kitchen culture.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Quality
Talk about your commitment to food quality and standards. Prepare to discuss how you've maintained high hygiene and operational standards in previous roles. Highlight any experiences where you’ve implemented successful training programmes that led to consistent food quality across multiple sites.
✨Prepare for Financial Discussions
Since this role involves understanding kitchen financial performance, brush up on your knowledge of GP, labour efficiency, and cost control. Be prepared to discuss how you've managed budgets and improved financial outcomes in your previous positions, as this will be crucial for success in the role.
