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- Tasks: Lead a dynamic kitchen team and create exceptional culinary experiences across multiple outlets.
- Company: Join Oak View Group, a leader in live events and hospitality innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, private healthcare, gym discounts, and ongoing career development.
- Other info: Embrace a fast-paced environment with opportunities to grow and innovate.
- Why this job: Make your mark in Nottingham's iconic venue and redefine culinary standards.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in leading large kitchen operations and a passion for food.
The predicted salary is between 62000 - 70000 £ per year.
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.
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.
- 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.
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 £62k-£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!
Inclusion & Eligibility: 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. 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.
Executive Head Chef in Derby employer: Rhubarb Hospitality Collection
Contact Detail:
Rhubarb Hospitality Collection Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Executive Head Chef in Derby
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry folks, attend culinary events, and join local chef groups. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Executive Head Chef role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you can, organise a tasting event or pop-up dinner to showcase your culinary flair. This not only highlights your talent but also gives potential employers a taste of what you can bring to their kitchen.
✨Tip Number 3
Be visible and approachable! When you're at interviews or networking events, make sure to engage with everyone. Your passion for food and leadership should shine through, so let your personality do the talking!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining us at Oak View Group. Tailor your approach to show how you can lead and inspire a brigade, and don’t forget to highlight your entrepreneurial spirit!
We think you need these skills to ace Executive Head Chef in Derby
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food: When you're writing your application, let your love for food and cooking shine through. Share your culinary journey and what drives you to create amazing dishes. We want to see that you're not just a chef, but someone who lives and breathes the culinary arts!
Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for this role. Highlight your experience in leading large kitchen teams and managing multiple outlets. We’re looking for someone who can adapt and thrive in a dynamic environment, so show us how you've done that in the past!
Be Authentic and Personable: We value character as much as experience. Don’t be afraid to let your personality come through in your application. Share anecdotes or experiences that showcase your leadership style and how you empower your team. We want to know the real you!
Apply Through Our Website: To make sure your application gets the attention it deserves, apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to see your application and get you into the process. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at The Island Quarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Rhubarb Hospitality Collection
✨Know Your Culinary Vision
Before the interview, think about your culinary philosophy and how it aligns with the venue's brand objectives. Be ready to discuss how you would set menus and standards across multiple outlets while maintaining a cohesive vision.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples of how you've empowered and developed kitchen teams in the past. Highlight your coaching techniques and how you’ve nurtured junior talent, as this role requires a strong focus on building a positive kitchen culture.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Acumen
Brush up on your knowledge of food cost management and GP performance. Be prepared to discuss how your culinary decisions have positively impacted business performance in previous roles, as this is crucial for the Executive Head Chef position.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about your experience working with various stakeholders and how you can build relationships with local suppliers and culinary colleges. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully navigated complex organisational structures in the past.