Head Chef

Head Chef – Kempton Park Racecourse Location: Kempton Park, Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey. Full time / Permanent. Up to £45,000 + excellent benefits including healthcare, wellbeing support, 23 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, life assurance, meals on duty, and more. Overview We are seeking a motivated Head Chef at Kempton Park Racecourse as part of Jockey Club Catering, a partnership between the leading commercial group in British horse racing – The Jockey Club, and Compass Group UK & Ireland. As Head Chef you will lead the day‑to‑day running of the kitchen for both Conference and Events and Race Days at Kempton Park Racecourse, with occasional travel to one of our other leading racecourses. You will be responsible for setting and maintaining high culinary standards, driving menu development and innovation, and managing your dedicated culinary team. Responsibilities Leading the brigade to successfully deliver the highest possible culinary standards. Ensuring sufficient staff are allocated to all locations. Liaising with management and the culinary team, ensuring any event changes are reacted to in a timely manner. Planning orders of equipment and ingredients according to identified shortages. Building relationships with casual workforce and supporting recruitment. Acting as the point of contact on live event days. Managing all company and legislative paperwork surrounding Health and Safety and Food Safety. Directing food preparation processes and any other related activity. Using your passion for fresh local produce to develop culinary activity. Striving for continuous innovation and improvement of the work environment and unit performance. Managing food gross profit, food cost of sale, food stock takes, and culinary department’s payroll costs. Managing the delivery, stock take and waste management of all culinary goods including order reporting. Qualifications A passion for fresh ingredients and menu innovation. Flexible working subject to business requirements. Computer literate. Experience in a fast‑paced environment and with a high volume of casual workforce, especially large events, is an advantage. A love of hospitality, food, and quality fresh ingredients. The ability to work under pressure while maintaining a positive attitude. Great leadership skills – Kitchen and Team management. Benefits Competitive salary and full company benefits. 23 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, your birthday off, and a holiday purchase scheme. Healthcare & wellbeing: Aviva Digicare, Medicash (dental, optical, therapy treatments). Mental health support: 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme. Family benefits: 2 days’ additional leave after returning from maternity leave, day off for your baby’s first birthday, enhanced family leave. Perks & discounts: Shopping, entertainment, and travel discounts, 20% off Nuffield Health and 10% off PureGym memberships. Financial wellbeing: Pension scheme, Life Assurance, preferred rates on salary finance products. Development opportunities: Professional subscriptions, ongoing training and structured career pathways. Meals on duty included. Why Join Us? Levy UK & Ireland is part of Compass Group, the world’s largest catering company, and a vibrant leader in hospitality. We believe in celebrating individuality and building inclusive teams where everyone feels they belong. Our diverse team fuels creativity, innovation, and excellence. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome candidates from all backgrounds to join us in creating a supportive, empowering workplace where everyone can thrive. Together, we create unforgettable experiences – and shape the future of hospitality. #J-18808-Ljbffr