Executive Head Chef in Nottingham

Oak View Group is reinventing the way the world comes together. Driven by a passion to revolutionise the live events industry with dynamic thinking and an unshakeable dedication to those we serve, OVG turns up the volume on what makes life extraordinary.

About the Venue

The Island Quarter has already become an iconic canal-side destination for Nottingham, boasting three storeys of restaurants, bars, and events space. From casual all-day dining, drinks and entertainment at Binks Yard with its expansive outdoor terrace, stage and screen built for live performances and sports screening, to refined dining at the Cleaver & Wake restaurant and bar using the very best ingredients from across the British Isles, this multi-purpose venue is truly one of a kind. The Island Quarter is managed by Rhubarb, part of Oak View Group.

Role Purpose

We're looking for an Executive Head Chef to take full culinary ownership of a complex, multi-outlet operation and lead a brigade of over 30 kitchen professionals. Reporting directly to the Venue Director and working in close collaboration with the General Managers across the site, this is a senior leadership position with real breadth and genuine influence. You'll lead the Head Chefs across each outlet through empowerment, coaching, and genuine day-to-day presence — not from an office, but from the pass. You'll set the tone, the standards, and the culture of the kitchen across every part of the site, while staying commercially sharp and strategically engaged.

This is a business that is growing, and the infrastructure is still taking shape in places. That means you'll need to be adaptable, entrepreneurial, and comfortable building things as you go — working through complexity rather than waiting for it to resolve itself. There are multiple stakeholders across the site and central OVG support teams to align with. The right person will see that as an opportunity, not an obstacle.

What you'll be doing

• Taking full culinary leadership of the site — setting menus, standards and direction across all four outlets in line with the venue's commercial and brand objectives.
• Leading and inspiring a brigade of 30+ kitchen professionals, with Head Chefs reporting into you across the operation.
• Coaching and developing Head Chefs through empowerment, regular feedback, and genuine investment in their growth.
• Mentoring junior and emerging talent — nurturing the next generation of chefs within the team.
• Owning food cost management, GP performance, supplier relationships, procurement, and kitchen efficiency across all outlets.
• Reporting into the Venue Director and collaborating actively with GMs across the site — a genuine senior stakeholder, not a back-room function.
• Aligning with OVG's central culinary and operational support teams, contributing to wider group initiatives and sharing best practice.
• Driving community engagement — building relationships with local suppliers, culinary colleges, apprenticeship programmes, and industry bodies.
• Maintaining full compliance across food safety, allergen management, HACCP, and health & safety in all kitchen environments.
• Being present and visible on the floor, the pass, and across the site — leading from the front when it counts.

What we're looking for

• You'll be an experienced senior chef who has led large, complex kitchen operations — ideally across multiple outlets or in a high-volume venue, hotel, or stadium environment.
• Proven experience as an Executive Head Chef, Executive Chef or Senior Head Chef across a multi-outlet or large-scale operation.
• Demonstrable experience managing brigades of 20+ and developing kitchen leadership teams.
• Strong commercial acumen — you understand GP, food cost, labour, and how culinary decisions drive business performance.
• A coaching and empowerment style of leadership — you build people up rather than just directing them.
• Experience across varied formats — fine dining, events catering, and high-volume covers — is a distinct advantage.
• Confident engaging with multiple stakeholders, senior leadership, and support functions across a complex organisation.
• An entrepreneurial mindset — comfortable operating in a growing, evolving environment where not everything is yet fully formed.
• Strong community and industry instincts — keen to engage with local suppliers, colleges, and the broader culinary ecosystem.
• Full working knowledge of food safety legislation, allergen compliance, and HACCP.

Good to know

This role is not for everyone. The operation is ambitious, the stakeholder landscape is wide, and parts of the infrastructure are still being built. There will be days that test you. But if you're the kind of chef who finds that energising rather than daunting — who wants to leave a real mark rather than maintain the status quo — there genuinely isn't an opportunity like this in the region right now.

Nottingham's best mixed-use venue, operated by one of the most forward-thinking companies in live entertainment and hospitality, looking for someone to define what its culinary offering can be. Salary, benefits and package are competitive and will be discussed at interview.

Please note, this role is only open to candidates located in and with the right to work in the UK. Salary range 62-70k DOE. Excellent benefits including private healthcare, corporate gym discount, F&B discount, multiple training and development programmes, cross exposure to our growing portfolio of venues, restaurants and events in the UK and beyond, ongoing career progression and more!

Our Inclusion Commitments

OVG is for everyone. Diversity drives innovation, strengthens our people, improves our service, and raises our excellence. Wherever you come from, wherever you are going, we’d love to hear from you. If you need any additional support or adjustments with your application, let us know and we will work with you to ensure you have everything you need.

Employee Screening and Eligibility to Work

If successful in your application, you will be required to provide eligibility to work evidence in line with the ‘Eligibility to Work in the UK’ requirements. All candidates will receive a response.