Head Chef

Description

Head Chef - Weddings & Banqueting

Buckinghamshire 45,000 + up to 3,000 discretionary bonus

Are you a talented, hands-on Head Chef with a passion for weddings, banqueting and delivering exceptional food?

We are recruiting for an exciting Head Chef opportunity with an established luxury hospitality group in Buckinghamshire, overseeing the kitchen at one of their dedicated wedding and events venues.

With 70+ weddings taking place each year, this is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced chef who thrives in a busy, high-volume environment and enjoys the buzz of delivering exceptional food for weddings and special occasions.

This is a genuinely hands-on Head Chef position. You will spend the majority of your time in the kitchen, cooking and leading your team during events, while also taking full responsibility for the commercial and operational performance of the kitchen.

The Role

As Head Chef, you will take ownership of the day-to-day running of the kitchen, with weddings and banqueting being the main focus of the role.

You will be responsible for creating and costing menus, managing your kitchen team, maintaining excellent food and hygiene standards, controlling GP and wage costs, and ensuring every event is delivered to an exceptional standard.

Key responsibilities

Lead and manage the day-to-day kitchen operationBe a hands-on chef, leading from the front during weddings and eventsOversee 70+ weddings and numerous banqueting functions each yearCreate, develop and cost menus for weddings and eventsEnsure consistently high standards of food quality, presentation and serviceRecruit, train, motivate and develop the kitchen teamProduce and manage kitchen rotas, including holidaysApprove timesheets and support payroll processesManage food costs, GP percentages and kitchen budgetsTake ownership of ordering, stock control and monthly stocktakesBuild strong relationships with suppliers and negotiate quality and valueEnsure all food safety, allergen and health & safety procedures are maintainedOversee kitchen maintenance, equipment and deep cleansDevelop efficient kitchen systems and proceduresWork closely with the front-of-house and events teams to ensure smooth serviceDevelop and refresh menus to enhance the guest experienceManage and support staff performance, appraisals and other people-management processesAbout You

We are looking for an experienced Head Chef or strong Sous Chef ready to step up, with a proven background in weddings, banqueting, hotels or high-volume events.

You will ideally have:

Strong experience within banqueting and eventsExperience delivering food for weddings and large functionsExcellent menu development and costing skillsA strong understanding of GP, budgets and wage controlExcellent organisational and leadership skillsA passion for quality food and presentationA hands-on approach to cooking and kitchen managementThe ability to remain calm and organised under pressureStrong knowledge of food safety, allergens and H&SThe ability to inspire, develop and lead a kitchen teamBanqueting experience is essential for this position.

We are particularly interested in chefs who enjoy the challenge of delivering consistently excellent food at volume and who take pride in creating memorable experiences for wedding guests.

Salary & Benefits

45,000 per annumUp to 3,000 discretionary annual bonusBonus linked to agreed GP and wage-budget targets45 hours per weekChef whites providedOpportunity to take genuine ownership of a busy and successful wedding/banqueting kitchenExcellent opportunity to develop menus, systems and a high-performing kitchen teamWorking Hours

45 hours per week, with shifts scheduled between 7am and 11pm, Monday to Sunday, depending on the events calendar and operational requirements.

Location

Buckinghamshire

Interested?

If you're an experienced, hands-on chef with a strong background in weddings and banqueting, and you're looking for an opportunity where you can genuinely put your stamp on a kitchen, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply now for a confidential conversation about this exciting opportunity.

Ad ID: 5419086669