Head Chef

Head Chef – ESS (Brecon Camp) Location: Brecon Camp, Wales Hours: 40 hours per week (5 over 7 – mix of early and late shifts) Pay: £16.25 per hour Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent Shift Patterns Early: 05:30 – 14:00 Late: 10:30 – 19:00 (includes a 30‑minute unpaid break) About the Role As Head Chef with ESS at Brecon Camp, you’ll lead a talented kitchen team delivering fresh, high‑quality meals to military personnel and staff. You’ll oversee all aspects of kitchen operations – from daily service to event catering – ensuring every plate meets our high standards. You’ll manage a team of 14, including 7 direct reports, and play a key role in creating a positive, professional kitchen environment. Meal Service Times Monday to Friday Breakfast: 06:00 – 07:00 Lunch: 12:15 – 13:30 Evening Meal: 17:00 – 18:30 Weekends Breakfast: 07:00 – 08:00 Lunch: 12:15 – 13:00 Evening Meal: 16:45 – 17:30 Key Responsibilities Lead, motivate, and develop a team of 14 to deliver excellent food and service Plan, prepare, and present fresh, nutritious meals for daily and special events Manage ordering, stock control, and food waste reduction Ensure full compliance with food hygiene, health, and safety standards Support smooth day‑to‑day operations and effective scheduling Inspire a culture of teamwork, pride, and culinary creativity About You You’re an experienced, hands‑on Head Chef who thrives under pressure and leads by example. You Will Have previous experience in a Head Chef or similar role (essential) Hold relevant catering qualifications (e.g. NVQ, City & Guilds – desirable) Be confident managing a large, diverse team in a fast‑paced environment Show strong leadership, organisation, and communication skills Be passionate about delivering high‑quality, seasonal food Be flexible to work a mixture of early and late shifts, including weekends What We Offer £16.25 per hour 40‑hour working week (5 over 7) Uniform provided Free meal on duty Free on‑site parking Subsidised gym membership Located on a bus route – easy to reach Career progression within ESS and Compass Group Benefits Contributory pension scheme Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes Quick access to a Digital GP and wider healthcare benefits for you and your family Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more Up to 44% off cinema tickets Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands Free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes Share all discounts and offers with your friends and families About Us Part of Compass Group UK&I, ESS is the Defence, Government, and Energy services sector of Compass Group UK & Ireland. We support 250+ UK military establishments, high‑profile police, secure environments and government sites, along with a range of onshore and offshore facilities including platforms, drilling rigs, floatels and offices for the energy sector. We look for people who are passionate about delivering excellent customer service at all levels. Job Reference: com/2011/94391001/52202093/R/SU #Defence Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at ESS – Defence, Energy and Government Services by 2x. Seniority level Mid‑Senior level Employment type Full-time Job function Management and Manufacturing Industries: Food and Beverage Services Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive – because diversity is our strength #J-18808-Ljbffr