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 operation
Be a hands-on chef, leading from the front during weddings and events
Oversee 70+ weddings and numerous banqueting functions each year
Create, develop and cost menus for weddings and events
Ensure consistently high standards of food quality, presentation and service
Recruit, train, motivate and develop the kitchen team
Produce and manage kitchen rotas, including holidays
Approve timesheets and support payroll processes
Manage food costs, GP percentages and kitchen budgets
Take ownership of ordering, stock control and monthly stocktakes
Build strong relationships with suppliers and negotiate quality and value
Ensure all food safety, allergen and health & safety procedures are maintained
Oversee kitchen maintenance, equipment and deep cleans
Develop efficient kitchen systems and procedures
Work closely with the front-of-house and events teams to ensure smooth service
Develop and refresh menus to enhance the guest experience
Manage and support staff performance, appraisals and other people-management processes

About 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 events
Experience delivering food for weddings and large functions
Excellent menu development and costing skills
A strong understanding of GP, budgets and wage control
Excellent organisational and leadership skills
A passion for quality food and presentation
A hands-on approach to cooking and kitchen management
The ability to remain calm and organised under pressure
Strong knowledge of food safety, allergens and H&S
The 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 annum
Up to £3,000 discretionary annual bonus
Bonus linked to agreed GP and wage-budget targets
45 hours per week
Chef whites provided
Opportunity to take genuine ownership of a busy and successful wedding/banqueting kitchen
Excellent opportunity to develop menus, systems and a high-performing kitchen team

Working 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