Head Chef

Head Chef
Location: IWM London, London
Salary: Up to £47,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time, 5 out of 7 days per week

As the Head Chef at IWM London, you will be joining this historic visitor attraction, to lead and develop the culinary offering. This role will be responsible for all the food offerings on site, from the retail visitor cafe to the conference & event catering operation. This venue is predominantly retail food led, so an individual with experience of high volume and high-quality food delivery would be ideal for this role. Success in this role means that visitors consistently enjoy food sold as well as served during the conference & events that they are attending.

What can we offer you:

  • A collaborative and inclusive culture, where your ideas are valued, and creativity is encouraged.
  • 20 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays and national holiday days).
  • Excellent pension programme with generous contribution from us.
  • Free staff meals whilst on site.
  • Access to Compass Group company perks & benefits.
  • Perks for Works discounts and promotions
  • Access to training, mentoring and development, with support from our wider Restaurant Associates and Compass Group UK networks.
  • On-site F&B discounts.

Responsibilities:
  • Menu Development & Innovation - Create and adapt menus that appeal to a broad visitor base, including family-friendly options, dietary requirements, and seasonal specials.
  • Operational Excellence - Oversee all kitchen operations, ensuring compliance with food safety legislation, company policies, and contractual obligations.
  • Leadership & Team Development - Recruit, train, and inspire a motivated kitchen team, fostering a positive and professional working culture.
  • Cost Control & Profitability - Manage budgets, control wastage, and achieve GP targets without compromising quality.
  • Collaboration - Work closely with front-of-house teams, site management, and the client to deliver a consistent and memorable food experience.
  • Event Catering - Experience in large scale eventing.

About You:
  • Proven track record as a Head Chef in a high-volume, high-quality environment.
  • Experience within visitor attractions and contract catering is highly desirable.
  • Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to lead by example.
  • Excellent organisational skills, especially during peak periods.
  • Sound knowledge of food trends, allergens, and dietary requirements.
  • Demonstrated ability to achieve financial targets while maintaining high quality.
  • Good IT and Microsoft Office skills.
  • Passionate about food and hospitality with a strong customer focus.
  • Adaptable and resilient in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment.
  • Creative, commercially aware, and results driven.
  • Committed to sustainability and responsible sourcing.

About Us:

Restaurant Associates is a leading premium hospitality provider with an ethos drawn from our history of fine and high-quality dining in London and New York.

Within our venues team, we provide catering and hospitality services to some of the most iconic visitor attractions and destinations in the UK including the Imperial War Museum London, Glyndebourne Opera House, Knebworth House, Design Museum, Whipsnade Zoo and many more. Within these amazing venues we operate a host of bespoke cafés and restaurants, as well as delivering private events ranging from small meetings to large-scale ground events of up to 1000 people. You can find a full list of our venues on our website.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive, diverse, fun, and dynamic place to work with opportunities to collaborate with a wide range of teams plus a commitment to putting our people first. Restaurant Associates is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds. As a business, we are committed to sustainability led practices and are proud to have achieved 3 stars with the Sustainable Restaurant Association's Food Made Good Programme.

Job Reference: com/2807/99073001/52823168/SU #RA Venues

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!

Job Reference: com/2807/99073001/52823168/SU #RA Venues

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!
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