Senior Development Chef in London

Contract: Full Time, Permanent

Salary: Competitive

Hours: 40 per week

At Thomas Franks London, we don’t just cater; we craft exceptional, food-focused experiences tailored just for you. With our commitment to openness and transparency, you can trust that every aspect of our service is handled with care and expertise. Thomas Franks London is a chef-led business. To us, this means boundless creativity, energy, passion and fun. Our inclusive culture grows talent within, allowing freedom for our people to feed their ambitions. Delivering tasty, flavour-packed food dish after dish is only possible through our meticulously curated London Larder with access to the prime pick of the city and its surrounding produce.

We are currently recruiting for a Senior Development Chef to join our team in London, reporting to the Head of Culinary. The Senior Development Chef is responsible for overseeing and upholding culinary and operational standards across all Thomas Franks sites in London. This role ensures all locations operate to the highest standards of food safety and health and safety compliance, whilst implementing and monitoring all costings, financial performance and culinary delivery across the region. The Senior Development Chef brings both operational expertise and financial accountability to the wider culinary team, supporting sites to achieve target GP, manage food costs effectively and maintain excellence in menu delivery and kitchen operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain Operational Standards
  • Visit London sites regularly to monitor performance.
  • Ensure all kitchens meet Thomas Franks standards.
  • Identify problems and implement improvements.
  • Ensure compliance with food safety, health & safety, and nutrition requirements.
• Manage Food Costs & Profitability
  • Monitor food costs, menu pricing, and gross profit (GP).
  • Ensure menus are correctly costed and financially viable.
  • Review financial performance and address any overspending.
  • Help sites achieve budget and profitability targets.
• Food Safety & Compliance
  • Lead food safety and health & safety standards across all sites.
  • Ensure teams follow hygiene, allergen, and safety procedures.
  • Support audits and legal compliance.
  • Promote fresh, seasonal, and locally sourced food.
• Recruitment & Training
  • Conduct chef trade tests and assist with interviews.
  • Support onboarding and induction of new chefs.
  • Ensure chefs understand company standards, policies, and expectations.
  • Ensure all sites follow company policies and operating procedures.
  • Monitor compliance and raise concerns where necessary.
• Communication & Support
  • Build strong relationships with chefs, managers, and operational teams.
  • Provide guidance and support to site teams.
  • Assist with new openings, events, pop-ups, transfers, and closures.
  • Ensure team members feel supported and engaged.
  • Take ownership of culinary financial performance across London sites.
  • Ensure budgets, costing sheets, stock controls, and purchasing processes are followed.
  • Identify opportunities to improve profitability and efficiency.
• People Management
  • Support chef development, performance management, and training.
  • Help identify future leaders and apprenticeship candidates.
  • Assist with employee relations issues, including grievances and disciplinary matters.
  • Support absence management, reviews, inductions, and payroll-related processes.
  • Ensure safeguarding procedures are followed.
  • Make sure teams have the correct uniforms and safety equipment.

Benefits

• Wider wallet scheme (discounts at major retailers, restaurants, gyms etc).
• Free meals on duty.
• Volunteers leave – up to one day per year.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoptive leave.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Recommend a friend bonus.
• Unrivalled individual training and development.
• Well established apprenticeship programme.
• Team & company social events.
• Employee assistance programme.
• Workplace pension.
• Excellent career progression within a leading independent contract caterer.

About us

Thomas Franks is a founder led, fresh food catering business with a focus on excellence and service delivered with individuality, passion and style. We are unique in every approach and our clients, and our people are paramount to our daily success.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have the Right to Work in the UK to be considered for this role.

Diversity and Inclusion at Thomas Franks

We actively encourage applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds and continue to develop a culture of growth and inclusion and would like to invite applications from groups who are currently under-represented, because we believe greater diversity leads to exceptional results and provides a better working life.