Executive Chef
Listed on 2026-02-01
-
Restaurant/Food Service
Catering, Cook & Chef, Restaurant Manager
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:
Role Overview
The Executive Chef is responsible for leading culinary performance across all schools within the region, ensuring consistently high food standards, strong commercial outcomes and full compliance with School Food Standards and company frameworks.
The role leads a small brigade of Regional Executive Chefs, providing hands-on culinary support to Heads of Operations (HOO’s) and Primary and Secondary schools. The Executive Chef is accountable for food quality, consistency, commercial performance, people development and supporting business growth through retention and new business activity.
A key focus of the role is understanding and influencing the commercial levers that drive profitability and growth, including PPM, GP% and margin performance, while delivering a market-leading, compliant and engaging food offer.
Key Accountabilities
Food Offer & Standards
Own and deliver a consistent, managed food offer across the region, incorporating food safety, nutrition, sustainability, innovation, brand standards and commerciality
Ensure all sites execute approved School Food Standards, SOURCE recipes, recipe cards and purchasing compliance
Set and maintain exceptional food quality standards across all service points, including counters, cafés, mobile pods and food outlets
Lead the Regional Executive Chef team to deliver consistent execution, prioritising daily business needs and continuous kitchen support
Culinary Leadership & Support
Lead, manage and develop the regional culinary team to ensure the highest standards of food delivery
Operate in a highly visible, hands-on and mobile role, visiting schools regularly to engage and support kitchen teams
Partner with HOO’s to ensure culinary requirements are met and a consistent food offer is delivered across all schools
Drive delivery of monthly PPM, GP% and margin targets
Lead regular regional culinary calls and ensure all communications and actions are completed
Attend and contribute to culinary forums, menu development sessions and regional leadership meetings
Training, Development & Partnership
Ensure clear culinary pathways and skills development plans are in place across the region
Personally support training delivery where required, maintaining a hands-on approach
Build strong collaborative relationships with HOO’s, operators and growth teams
Represent the business at key Chartwells events, client engagements and regional forums
Growth & Mobilisation
Provide culinary leadership to support retention and new business growth
Lead food presentations and support tender submissions
Deliver South/Regional Map 1 sales and retention presentations
Lead and support mobilisations, ensuring readiness and strong Day 1 “Go Live” delivery
Person Specification
Experience & Capability
Proven track record of hands-on culinary leadership within a large-scale, multi-site commercial food service environment
Experience delivering sustainable, global and education-appropriate food offers across multiple service channels
Demonstrated ability to lead, coach and develop teams, including matrix or indirect reports
Strong commercial acumen with a clear understanding of PPM, GP%, margin and cost control drivers
Confident communicator with strong presentation and influencing skills across all stakeholder levels
Able to inspire and engage diverse audiences, from frontline teams to senior leaders and clients
Comfortable operating at pace,…
To Search, View & Apply for jobs on this site that accept applications from your location or country, tap here to make a Search: