Head Chef

Permanent

Head Chef

Daytime Hours, No Weekends
Term Time Only – Work Just 39 Weeks Per Year

We’re recruiting a Head Chef for an exciting opportunity in Winchester, offering an excellent work-life balance with daytime hours and term-time working. This role is ideal for a hospitality professional seeking a leadership position in a large-scale education setting, commutable from Southampton and surrounding areas.

As Head Chef, you’ll oversee the culinary operation within a busy college environment, delivering high-quality, nutritious food for a large student population, boarding houses, and hospitality events. You’ll play a key role in shaping menus, leading a large catering team, and enhancing the overall food experience across the campus in Winchester.

Why apply / What’s in it for you?

• You’ll enjoy a salary of £36,497 pro rata
• You’ll work daytime hours with no weekends
• You’ll benefit from a term-time only role – just 39 weeks per year
• You’ll have the opportunity to lead a large and established catering team
• You’ll gain experience managing food provision for a large-scale educational setting
• You’ll work in a supportive environment focused on quality and student experience

Key Responsibilities

As Head Chef, you will lead the day-to-day culinary operation and ensure consistently high standards across all catering services. Responsibilities include:

• Supervising a catering team of around 20 staff, including chefs, kitchen porters and front of house
• Planning and delivering nutritious, high-quality menus for approximately 5,000 day students and boarding houses
• Leading menu development and culinary innovation
• Managing team performance, training and motivation
• Ensuring strict food safety, hygiene and compliance standards
• Supporting hospitality events and expanding catering offerings
• Engaging with stakeholders across the college to enhance the student dining experience

What we’re looking for

To succeed in this Head Chef role, you’ll bring strong leadership and operational catering experience, alongside a passion for delivering quality food at scale.

• Previous experience in a senior kitchen leadership role
• Strong people management and team development skills
• Experience delivering high-volume catering operations
• Excellent knowledge of food safety and compliance standards
• A collaborative approach and ability to engage with stakeholders
• Experience working as a Chef Manager or similar leadership role is advantageous

If you’re looking for your next step as a Head Chef in Winchester, with excellent work-life balance and the chance to lead a large catering operation, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now.

Job Number │ 935321
Location │ Winchester
Role │ Head Chef

Platinum Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.