Head Chef

We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

Free meals

Onsite parking

Contributory pension scheme

Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes

Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits

Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, (url removed) 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 to enjoy your favourite blockbuster

Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands

Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes

You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families

Working 5 out of 7 days

Looking for your next step… Join a growing catering team as the new Head Chef.

If you want to support the growth and development of the catering department then this role is for you. 

We are seeking an ambitious Head Chef to lead our food and hospitality offer, driving operational excellence, culinary innovation, and student engagement across the Universities four campuses. 

 

Why Join Us

We believe in recognising and rewarding your contribution. Our comprehensive benefits package includes (but is not limited to):

On-site parking

Free meal on shift

Contributory pension scheme

Career development through our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes

Digital GP access and healthcare support for you and your immediate family

Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, (url removed) and more

Grocery discounts with major retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons

Up to 44% off cinema tickets

Cashback rewards on a wide range of brands

Free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes

Share your discounts with family and friends

 

The Role

This is a key leadership role, responsible for shaping and delivering the catering and hospitality vision. You will lead your team to provide exceptional daily service across the campus outlets and a rich hospitality calendar that includes formal dinners and celebrations.

 

Key responsibilities include:

Leadership: Inspire and develop the kitchen team to deliver an exceptional food and service experience for all staff and students, ensuring it’s fresh vibrant and taps in to industry and market trends.

Commercial Excellence: Deliver financial targets within the kitchen, identify opportunities for innovation and efficiency, and ensure both operational and commercial success is achieved.

Innovation & Engagement: Work with the Marketing Manager and Contract Director to develop and deliver an exciting engagement plan to include pop-ups, interactive cooking sessions and events. Drive student engagement through these, feedback forums, and student committees to ensure the offer evolves with their needs.

People Development: Recruit, train, and inspire talented individuals, creating and embedding a culture of pride, professionalism, and continuous improvement.

Operational Excellence: Uphold the highest standards of health & safety, compliance, food quality and service, ensuring every meal reflects the high standards expected.

 

About You

You will bring proven experience of leading a team, ideally within education, hospitality, or a similar sector. Commercially astute and operationally excellent, you will have:

A strategic mindset with the ability to deliver day-to-day excellence while shaping long-term vision.

A genuine passion for food and service, with the ability to elevate the everyday into something special.

Influential leadership skills, able to inspire others.

Business management within a kitchen environment, working to budgets, targets and deadlines.

 Flexibility, resilience, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic, community-focused environment.

About Us

As part of Compass you'll help to feed people, fuel progress and forge connections in around 6,000 venues. Join us to grow your career with the industry leader, and get competitive pay, great perks and unrivalled opportunities for learning and development, at one of the UK's biggest businesses.

Job Reference: com/1711/(phone number removed)/(phone number removed)/R/SU #Universities & Colleges

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