Senior Head Chef – Retail & Staff Dining. Monday–Friday. Salary: £58,000. London
An opportunity for an experienced Senior Head Chef to take responsibility for a busy, high-profile corporate retail catering operation within a major London media and publishing organisation.
The business has a substantial on-site workforce, with approximately 1,800 people on site on an average day and capacity for up to 2,000. The food operation is varied, fresh-food focused and offers several different dining options throughout the day.
The Operation
The retail catering operation includes three main food counters, a small salad bar and a range of grab-and-go options.
The offering includes:
Ø Three daily food counters serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Ø A street-food style counter serving up to 300 people.
Ø Freshly prepared sushi, salads and grab-and-go pots.
Ø Soups, jacket potatoes and a selection of hot fillings.
Ø A rotating hot sandwich offer from the internal Café.
Ø Fish and chips Fridays and other themed daily specials.
Ø A weekend grab-and-go offer featuring boxed meals, sandwiches, salads and confectionery.
Everything is prepared fresh in-house, with an emphasis on tasty, well-executed food, combining familiar home comforts with creativity and innovation.
There are also opportunities to collaborate with the organisation's publishing division, including developing dishes inspired by cookery books and working alongside authors and chefs.
The Role
Reporting into the wider catering management structure, the Senior Head Chef will take ownership of the day-to-day kitchen operation, leading an established team of eight chefs, including the Hospitality Head Chef.
Responsibilities will include:
Ø Leading, motivating and developing a stable, hardworking kitchen team.
Ø Maintaining consistently high standards of food quality, presentation and service.
Ø Overseeing menu planning, food development and daily specials.
Ø Managing production across multiple counters and service periods.
Ø Ensuring effective preparation, stock control, ordering and cost management.
Ø Maintaining excellent food safety and health and safety standards.
Ø Remaining hands-on and leading from the front during busy services.
Ø Providing flexibility and support to the hospitality operation when required, including occasional additional hours.
The operation runs predominantly Monday to Friday, with breakfast, lunch and dinner provision. Weekend requirements are more focused on preparing boxed meals and grab-and-go products.
The Ideal Candidate
We are looking for a confident, commercially aware Senior Head Chef with experience managing a busy, multi-outlet retail or contract catering operation.
You will need to be:
- An accomplished kitchen leader, comfortable managing a team of eight.
- Experienced in high-volume fresh-food production.
- Creative and passionate about delivering interesting, accessible food.
- Organised, hands-on and commercially astute.
- Flexible enough to support hospitality requirements when needed.
- Comfortable managing multiple service periods and different food concepts.
Senior Head Chef – Retail & Staff Dining. Monday–Friday. Salary: £58,000. London
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Senior Head Chef - Retail & Staff Dining. Monday-Friday £58,000 in London employer: Host Staffing
Join a prestigious events and hospitality team in Central London as a Chef de Partie, where you'll enjoy a supportive work culture that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. With a focus on high-quality ingredients and a diverse range of culinary experiences, this role offers an excellent work-life balance, generous benefits including 36 days of annual leave, and opportunities for skill development within a dynamic kitchen environment. Embrace the chance to thrive in a vibrant city while crafting exceptional dining experiences for a variety of events.
