Great food in the workplace isn’t simply about fuel. It’s about increasing productivity and improving performance; it’s about happy, motivated people and inspiring environments. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do - we live to bring food and people together.
We are brave, bold and curious adventurers in food and drink. Never shy of being different, always challenging the conventional.
Our passionate team of chefs, baristas, servers, nutritionists and much more, love nothing more than creating memorable moments that enrich the everyday. Come and join our award-winning teams - we are currently recruiting for a Head of Campus Culinary to join our team.
Salary: £59,000 per annum
Location: London
Working Pattern: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday, with occasional weekend work required.
About the Role
We are looking for an experienced and passionate Head of Campus Culinary to lead the food strategy and culinary operations across the UCL campus. This is a senior leadership role responsible for driving food innovation, delivering exceptional customer experiences, and ensuring operational excellence across retail, residential dining, and hospitality services.
You will lead a team of Head Chefs, oversee menu development, manage culinary performance, and build strong relationships with key stakeholders. The role combines creativity, commercial awareness, people leadership, and a commitment to delivering high-quality, sustainable food solutions.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the culinary strategy across all UCL food outlets and hospitality services.
- Develop innovative, nutritious, and commercially successful menus for students, staff, and guests.
- Ensure consistently high standards of food quality, presentation, hygiene, and customer satisfaction.
- Drive sustainability initiatives, responsible sourcing, and food waste reduction programmes.
- Manage food costs and support labour cost controls to achieve financial targets.
- Work closely with marketing and operational teams to enhance the campus food offer and respond to customer feedback.
- Ensure compliance with all food safety, HACCP, health and safety, and audit requirements.
- Lead, mentor, and develop Head Chefs and wider culinary teams across the campus.
- Support recruitment, succession planning, training, and performance management activities.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with UCL stakeholders and Compass colleagues.
- Act as the culinary ambassador for UCL and contribute to wider Higher Education sector initiatives.
Our Ideal Candidate
- Proven experience in a senior culinary leadership role such as Executive Chef, Group Chef, or Head of Culinary.
- Strong track record of managing multiple food operations within a high-volume environment.
- Passion for food innovation, trends, sustainability, and customer experience.
- Excellent commercial awareness with experience managing budgets, food costs, and profitability.
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire, develop, and motivate culinary teams.
- Thorough knowledge of food safety, HACCP, and health and safety compliance.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Ability to balance creativity with operational and financial performance.
- A proactive, customer-focused approach with a commitment to continuous improvement.
What's in it for you?
Working with Gather and Gather has its perks! People are at the heart of everything we do, so we've developed a range of benefits to keep you happy.
- Personal Development and Training opportunities
- Life assurance scheme
- Pension scheme
- Holiday allowance
- Access to Healthcare Support App which includes Annual health check, Digital GP, Mental Health Consultations, Nutritional Consultations, Second Medical Opinion
- Eye care
- A great wellbeing strategy - including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, salary finance
- Family friendly support
- Regular social events and communication with our leaders
- A holiday purchase scheme
- Volunteering days
- Professional subscriptions
- Recognition schemes and people awards
- Long service awards
- Access to some great high street discount vouchers
Job Reference: com/1708/48608001/52827896/SU #Gather and Gather
Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!
Head of Campus Culinary in London employer: Gather & Gather UK
Gather & Gather UK is an excellent employer, offering a vibrant work culture in Barnsley where creativity and teamwork flourish. With benefits like free meals, comprehensive training, and wellness facilities, employees are supported in their personal and professional growth, making it a rewarding place to build a career in catering.
