Head of Food and Operations

We are currently recruiting for an experienced and dynamic Head of Food and Operations to lead our kitchen and hospitality services at a flagship workplace restaurant in Leeds city centre, just steps from the train station.

As Head of Food and Operations, you will have a strong culinary background in fresh food and a passion for quality. This is a hands-on, operational leadership role where your expertise in kitchen management and culinary execution will be essential. You’ll be a key presence in the kitchen, working closely with your team to set standards, refine processes, and deliver an exceptional dining experience.

We’re looking for a senior-level Chef Manager or Food and Operations professional with a proven track record of leading professional kitchen teams, managing complex food operations, and maintaining consistently high standards across food safety, service, and presentation. You should be confident in managing service at pace, overseeing stock and menu planning, and driving culinary innovation, all while keeping a close eye on cost efficiency and compliance.

This brand-new role, created as part of a recent restructure, reflects our commitment to exceptional service, innovation, and team development. It offers a fantastic opportunity to showcase your skills, take ownership of a thriving service, and be a driving force for innovation across both kitchen and hospitality departments.

You’ll oversee a team of approximately 15 staff across the kitchen and hospitality departments. Your responsibilities will include not just the smooth daily running of service, but also staff development, performance management, and mentoring ensuring your team grows in confidence, skill, and consistency.

The kitchen offers a vibrant, freshly prepared menu that includes breakfast and lunch services. Breakfast options range from full English breakfasts to a yoghurt and toppings bar, along with fresh baked goods. Lunch features world cuisine, bistro dishes, deli selections, and a seasonal salad bar, with three specials each week and some plant-based options.

We’re looking for a confident, capable leader who is passionate about great food, high-quality service, and team development. You’ll be proactive, customer-focused, and ready to inspire and support your team in delivering a consistently excellent experience—both in the kitchen and in front-of-house service.

This is a full-time position based on a 40-hour working week. Core hours are typically 7:00am to 3:30pm, Monday to Friday, but you will be expected to manage your time effectively to meet the needs of the business. This may occasionally include evening or weekend work in support of hospitality events. Day-to-day, the kitchen caters for around 150 people, plus hospitality.

Wilson Vale is an established, quality-led contract caterer. We work with amazing clients across the UK who place huge value on great food as a key part of their culture and community. We work in office restaurants, independent schools and at conference venues with the same high-end ethos throughout.

Our culture unites us. We stand for craft, quality, creative freedom, forward thinking and integrity. We never compromise on our commitment to fresh, seasonal produce and the fantastic people that make it all happen!

The role requires someone who is commercially minded with the ability to demonstrate a track record of developing efficient and cost-effective processes and that you have first class communication skills and a keen eye for detail.

• Ensure that all hospitality services are delivered to the highest standards
• Must be comfortable leading from the front and working hands-on as needed in a fast-paced environment
• Able to design and deliver bespoke hospitality solutions tailored to a variety of events and audiences
• Health & safety / compliance knowledge
• Staff development including training and motivating staff
• Manage labour budget / Manage cost
• Must have a love for great food and service
• Excellent people management and communication skills
• Experience in a similar role
• Experience of leading and managing teams to deliver results
• Able to work in a pressurised environment and be able to multi-task
• Understanding of P&L accounts
• Good customer service and strong communication skills
• Strong premium hospitality experience in another venue
• A passion for exceptional service is essential
• Strong understanding of service styles, food trends
• Innovation and creativity
• Exceptional presentation skills
• Articulate and very well organised
• Proactive and reliable

OUR CULTURE: Craft at our core - we pride ourselves on our craft-skilled chefs who create wonderful fresh food from scratch. It’s all about the food - the menu is the most important document our chefs write every week. Quality, seasonal ingredients - 300+ British suppliers and our chefs can source locally. Freedom to create - our teams love to cook up exciting food themes and pop-ups to keep the food fun. Support like no other - our business was founded by family and we have stayed true to those same family values of nurturing development, protecting our values and building trust and loyalty. Making food that not only tastes great but is good for the planet. We have always had a strong environmental ethos and are dedicated to our social and environmental commitments. We believe in tailored training and opportunities to build your career with us.

WILSON VALE PERKS: Our working hours are some of the best you'll find in catering - we are strong believers in work-life balance. Our working environment is fun and inspiring, with excellent career development opportunities. Craft Works - Free craft-focused career development training programme. Paid training bespoke to you. Access to our Employee Assistance Programme- your wellbeing is very important to us. Online employee benefits scheme - monetary savings on everyday items! Your Birthday off every year after 1 years’ service. Enhanced Maternity Pay.

Wilson Vale is an equal opportunities employer that strives to create an inclusive working environment for all. We are committed to supporting our people and do not tolerate discrimination of any kind. From each and every person in our catering teams, to our operations and central support teams - everyone has a voice.