CPU Head Chef

Sessions is building the operating model for the future of restaurants, giving consumers instant access to the brands they love, wherever they live. The Sessions distribution engine runs through 400+ delivery kitchens and 16 high street restaurants across the UK. Founded in 2020 and led by ex-Deliveroo MD Dan Warne, Sessions has grown 7x in three years. Our platform has processed over 5 million orders and reaches 60% of the UK population. Our team brings experience from Deliveroo, Amazon, BrewDog, and Gousto. We scale brands at a pace that redefines what’s possible in food.

We are Agile - Thrive in fast-pace. We sprint, adapt, and learn. We are Ambitious - Contribute to something big. Watch your career grow bigger. We are Fun - High performance, high fives. Join a team you’ll love. We are Data-Driven - Turn insights into action. We lead with evidence. We have Initiative - Anticipate problems. Drive the solution.

The Central Production Unit (CPU) Chef is responsible for all kitchen processes, procedures, and the day-to-day execution of operations at our CPU, based at Mission Kitchen in Vauxhall. Working independently, you’ll take ownership of preparing high-quality mise en place and base products to be delivered to our sites, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and exceptional standards.

You’ll work closely with our Culinary Development, ‘New Brands’, and Studio teams, and maintain strong daily communication with our Franchisee partners to ensure alignment and smooth rollout. The initial focus will be on supporting our ‘Ivan Ramen’ brand, playing a critical role in reducing in-service prep time on-site while maintaining premium quality. Over time, we may decide to expand and include other brands in the CPU.

You’ll be involved in every aspect of making this unit a success—from ongoing operations to delivering a best-in-class central kitchen on time and to spec.

What will you do?

• Elevate and improve SOPs for all kitchen processes, from ingredient receiving to final product dispatch
• Stock Count + P&L Reporting - Implement rigorous stock-take procedures and comprehensive P&L reporting to optimise inventory turnover and ensure financial transparency
• Plan, prepare, and execute production to the highest quality standards, ensuring full recipe compliance
• Manage daily kitchen operations independently, including prep schedules, equipment use, and workflow optimisation
• Maintain strict food safety and hygiene standards, according to HACCP documentation
• Coordinate production and delivery schedules to meet the needs of all franchise sites and avoid service delays
• Conduct quality control checks on all outputs before distribution to ensure premium brand standards are met
• Collaborate with Culinary Development, Validation, and Studio teams to test, refine, and roll out recipes and processes
• Communicate regularly with franchise partners to gather feedback, adjust production volumes, and resolve operational issues quickly
• Oversee ingredient sourcing and stock control, including order placement, supplier liaison, and waste reduction
• Train and guide additional kitchen staff as the CPU operation grows, ensuring consistent skills and procedures
• Monitor and maintain kitchen equipment, coordinating maintenance or repairs to minimise downtime
• Track and report on production KPIs (yields, waste, prep time, delivery accuracy) for continuous improvement

Requirements

• 3+ years in a professional kitchen environment
• Highly organised individual with strong administrative skills
• Previous experience in a central production unit (CPU), commissary kitchen, or high-volume prep environment (preferred)
• Track record of implementing and refining kitchen processes to improve efficiency and consistency
• Experience collaborating with culinary development or R&D teams to test and roll out new menu items is preferred
• Proven ability to manage kitchen operations independently, from ordering to dispatch
• Charismatic and energetic with a passion for food
• Expert level of English language
• Right to work in the UK

Benefits & Perks

• Financial - Bonus Scheme paid out every 6 months; Share Options; Pay day on demand; Expense card; Finance Platform
• Social, Mental & Physical Wellbeing - Hybrid Working up to 2 days remote per week; Holidays - 25 days + bank holidays + Birthday Off; Healthcare - Healthcare CashPlan; Employee Assistance Programme; Socials - Monthly socials; Dog Friendly; Wear what you like
• Technology Perks - Laptop: Apple Mac; Phone: Apple iPhone and company sim provided
• Progression & Development - High Growth Start Up with progression opportunities; Management & Leadership Programme; Be Inspired - Learn from a team that’s scaled some of the UK’s biggest consumer companies; Membership & Qualifications

Sessions are a living wage and equal opportunity employer. All applicants are reviewed anonymously where only work experience and education will be available for the hiring manager to view. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, family or parental status, national origin, veteran, neurodiversity status or disability status.