Sous Chef

We are looking for a talented and driven Sous Chef to join our catering team at Imperial College Union, supporting the delivery of high-quality food services across our vibrant venues. This is a hands‑on role where you’ll be instrumental in shaping the culinary experience for our diverse student community, internal clients, and external partners.

As Sous Chef, you will work closely with the Catering Operations Manager to ensure smooth day‑to‑day kitchen operations, uphold food safety standards, and contribute to menu development that reflects current trends and customer preferences. You’ll take the lead in the kitchen when required, setting the tone for quality, consistency, and efficiency. This role offers the opportunity to work in a dynamic, student‑led environment where your creativity and leadership will make a real impact.

You’ll be based across our South Kensington and Hammersmith campuses, supporting a variety of events, private hires, and daily service needs. If you’re passionate about food, thrive in a fast‑paced setting, and want to be part of a collaborative and inclusive team, we’d love to hear from you.

What you would be doing

As Sous Chef, you’ll play a key role in delivering a high-quality catering experience across Imperial College Union venues. You’ll be responsible for supporting kitchen operations, leading the team when needed, and ensuring compliance with all relevant standards.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead kitchen operations in the absence of the Catering Operations Manager
• Prepare and present high-quality dishes across a variety of catering demands
• Oversee stock management and assist with placing orders and receiving deliveries
• Monitor and maintain kitchen equipment to ensure safety and functionality
• Support menu development to meet customer expectations and budget targets
• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety and Food Safety regulations
• Collaborate with Venues and Events teams to align food offerings with beverage and event services
• Supervise and train casual kitchen staff to maintain high standards
• Engage with students and staff to gather feedback and drive continuous improvement
• Build strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Work flexibly, including evenings and weekends, to support Union trading hours and events
• Promote a culture of warmth, inclusivity, and excellence within the team

Please see Job Description for full outline of duties.

What we are looking for

We’re seeking a proactive and experienced Sous Chef who is passionate about delivering exceptional food and service. You’ll be a strong team player with excellent communication skills and a commitment to continuous improvement.

• Level 3 Food Safety Qualification
• Appropriate Health & Safety certification
• Proven experience as a Sous Chef in a high-volume catering or hospitality setting
• Significant experience in fast‑paced kitchen operations
• Strong understanding of catering trends and customer preferences
• Working knowledge of Health & Safety regulations, COSHH, and best practices
• Commitment to personal and professional development
• Ability to promote high standards and act as a role model
• Commitment to working in a democratic, student‑led environment
• Ability to manage competing priorities under pressure

Please see Person Specification in Job Description for full outline of duties.

What we can offer you

Please note this role is with the Students’ Union. We’re a registered charity in our right, with our own governance, systems, processes, and objectives. However, we work extremely closely with Imperial College London, so you’ll also be joining a wider community of staff working within higher education. If you’ve never worked in a students’ union, or are unsure why it’s different, we encourage you to get in contact. It’s a brilliant place to work.

As an employee of Imperial College, you will be part of lively community and work in a friendly and relaxed environment. Our aim is to provide to all our employees an encouraging and relaxed working environment with an emphasis on personal development and work‑life balance. Based on that we offer:

• 27 days of holiday leave per leave year in addition to mandatory leave dates
• bicycle loan scheme
• season ticket loan
• excellent professional development opportunities and many more.

More information can be found on the Imperial College Benefits page:

We are running a characteristic anonymised application process for this recruitment as part of the College’s commitment to equal opportunities and eliminating discrimination. Applicants will be assigned an application reference number and applicants’ names will not be visible to recruiting managers until the interview stage. You not be required to attach a CV. Please also refrain from including your name in your supporting statement.

Interviews expected to take place from week commencing 7 September 2026

We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith, or disability. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and other racial minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. If there are any reasonable adjustments needed through the process, we will accommodate as much as possible.

As part of our commitment to sustainability, every role within Imperial College Union contributes to our environmental and social goals. This includes actively participating in initiatives to reduce waste, conserve energy, and promote eco-friendly practices within every department.

Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.

About Imperial

Welcome to Imperial, a global top-ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.

Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world’s toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.

As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you’ll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.

This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you’ll join us at Imperial College London.

Our Culture

We work towards equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination, and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our web pages .

Proud signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. We welcome applications from the Armed Forces community.

Our values are at the root of everything we do, and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation.