At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop kitchen teams across iconic London venues, ensuring exceptional food quality and standards.
- Company: Join The Columbo Group, a vibrant hospitality group with a passion for people and food.
- Benefits: Enjoy staff discounts, competitive salary, and ongoing training in a creative environment.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for career progression in a fast-growing company.
- Why this job: Shape kitchen culture and develop future culinary leaders in exciting venues.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in senior chef roles and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 € per year.
We’re looking for an exceptional Group Head Chef to lead, develop, and elevate kitchen teams across some of London’s most loved hospitality venues, including The Blues Kitchen, The Jazz Cafe, and The Old Queen’s Head. This is a senior leadership role for a passionate, people first operator who thrives in high volume hospitality and genuinely loves being in kitchens, around teams, and in service. This is not an office based role — we’re looking for someone hands on, present, and visible in venues every week, coaching teams in real time and leading from the floor.
Working closely with our Executive Chef, the mission of this role is built around three core pillars:
- Standards — exceptional kitchen organisation, cleanliness, compliance, and audit performance
- Consistency — strong training, development, leadership, and people practices across every site
- Quality — delivering consistently outstanding food and guest experiences
Reporting into the Executive Chef, you’ll work closely with the CEOs, Head of Operations, Head of People, Head Chefs, and General Managers to build high performing kitchens, develop future leaders, and strengthen food operations across the group.
As Group Head Chef, you will lead the people, performance, culture, and operational standards of our kitchens across multiple venues. You’ll spend the majority of your time in venues - supporting services, coaching teams, auditing standards, and developing people directly.
Key Responsibilities
- Leadership & Development
- Coach, mentor, and develop Head Chefs into confident, high performing leaders
- Build clear development pathways and succession plans across kitchen teams
- Lead regular 1-2-1s, performance reviews, and career conversations
- Support recruitment, onboarding, retention, and team engagement
- Foster positive, accountable kitchen cultures aligned with company values
- Lead by example in standards, behaviour, and leadership style
- Standards & Operations
- Drive exceptional standards of cleanliness, organisation, and kitchen operations
- Conduct regular site visits, audits, and operational reviews
- Ensure consistency in food quality, presentation, and service execution
- Maintain strong food hygiene, HACCP, allergen, and health & safety standards
- Ensure kitchens are efficient, structured, and aligned with company expectations
- Performance & Financials
- Support Head Chefs in understanding and owning kitchen financial performance
- Drive improvements in GP, labour efficiency, and cost control
- Review reporting and coach teams to improve operational performance
- Support effective stock control, ordering, and supplier management
- Food & Quality
- Ensure food quality is consistently delivered at a high standard across all sites
- Support kitchens in executing menus efficiently and consistently
- Proven experience in a senior multi site chef or operational leadership role
- A hands on leader who genuinely enjoys being in kitchens and developing teams
- Strong coaching, mentoring, and people development capability
- Experience improving team performance, engagement, and retention
- Commercial understanding of kitchen financials and operational performance
- Calm, organised, and solutions focused under pressure
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
- Passion for hospitality, standards, consistency, and food quality
- The opportunity to shape kitchen culture across some of London’s most exciting hospitality venues
- A genuine platform to develop people and build future culinary leaders
- Career progression within a fast-growing independent hospitality group
- A collaborative, creative, and people focused environment
- Staff discounts across The Columbo Group venues
- Competitive salary package
- Ongoing training and development opportunities
What We’re Looking For
Why Join The Columbo Group?
Group Head Chef employer: The Columbo Group
Join The Columbo Group as a Group Head Chef and immerse yourself in a vibrant, people-focused work culture that champions culinary excellence across some of London's most beloved venues. With a commitment to staff development, you will have the opportunity to shape kitchen teams, foster leadership, and enjoy competitive benefits including staff discounts and ongoing training. This hands-on role not only allows you to lead from the front but also offers a genuine pathway for career progression within a fast-growing independent hospitality group.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Group Head Chef
✨Tip Number 1
Get out there and network! Attend industry events, pop into local venues, and chat with other chefs and hospitality professionals. Building relationships can open doors to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion for food and leadership during interviews. Share stories about how you’ve developed teams or improved kitchen standards. We want to see your hands-on approach and genuine love for the culinary world!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just apply online; follow up! A quick email or call to express your enthusiasm can make a big difference. It shows you’re proactive and really interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Be prepared to demonstrate your skills in a practical setting. If you get the chance, showcase your cooking abilities or your approach to leading a team during a trial shift. We love seeing candidates in action!
We think you need these skills to ace Group Head Chef
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Hospitality:When writing your application, let your love for the kitchen and hospitality shine through. We want to see that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely enjoy being hands-on and leading teams in a vibrant environment.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills:Make sure to emphasise your experience in coaching and developing others. We’re looking for someone who can build strong kitchen cultures, so share examples of how you've mentored Head Chefs or improved team performance in the past.
Be Specific About Your Experience:Tailor your application to reflect your proven experience in multi-site operations. Mention specific achievements related to kitchen standards, financial performance, or food quality that align with what we’re looking for.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity to shape kitchen culture across our venues.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Columbo Group
✨Know Your Venues
Before the interview, make sure you research The Blues Kitchen, The Jazz Cafe, and The Old Queen’s Head. Understand their menus, vibe, and what makes them special. This will show your passion for the role and help you connect with the interviewers.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Be ready to discuss your leadership approach and how you develop kitchen teams. Share specific examples of how you've coached Head Chefs or improved team performance in previous roles. This is a chance to demonstrate your hands-on leadership style.
✨Emphasise Standards and Quality
Prepare to talk about your experience with kitchen standards, cleanliness, and food quality. Highlight any systems or processes you've implemented to maintain high standards across multiple sites. This aligns perfectly with the core pillars of the role.
✨Engage with Financial Acumen
Since the role involves understanding kitchen financials, be prepared to discuss how you've managed costs, improved GP, and driven efficiency in past positions. Showing your commercial understanding will set you apart as a candidate who can contribute to the bottom line.
