Head Chef – ESS (Beachley Barracks) Location: Beachley Barracks Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent Hours: 37.5 hours per week (rotating shifts, 5 days over 7) Salary: £18.43 per hour Additional Hours: Occasional evenings and weekends during seasonal functions and events About The Role ESS is seeking a Head Chef to lead operations across two kitchens at Beachley Barracks. You will be responsible for delivering high-quality meals for around 30 personnel daily, with numbers increasing during seasonal functions and special events. As Head Chef, you will lead a small team of 3 staff, managing rotas, shift patterns, and daily kitchen operations to ensure smooth service and consistent delivery of nutritious, well-presented meals. Meal Service Times Breakfast: 07:00 – 07:45 Lunch: 12:30 – 13:15 Evening Meal: 19:00 – 19:15 Shift Patterns Early Shift: 06:00 – 14:00 Late Shift: 12:30 – 20:00 You will work a mixture of early and late shifts throughout the week, Monday to Sunday (5 days out of 7), with flexibility to support seasonal functions and special events. Key Responsibilities Lead, motivate, and develop a team of 3 kitchen staff, ensuring high standards of professionalism and teamwork. Oversee daily kitchen operations across two kitchens, including meal preparation, service, and presentation. Plan and manage staff rotas to meet service demands. Prepare, cook, and present a variety of dishes to consistently high standards. Deliver catering for seasonal events and special functions. Manage ordering, stock control, and minimise food waste. Ensure full compliance with all food hygiene, health, and safety standards. About You You are an experienced culinary professional with proven experience in a Head Chef or similar senior role. You thrive in a dynamic, small-team environment and have the ability to manage multiple kitchens effectively. You Will Have previous experience in a similar role (essential). Hold relevant catering qualifications (desirable). Demonstrate excellent leadership, organisational, and communication skills. Be flexible and adaptable to meet operational needs. Be passionate about delivering high-quality, seasonal meals. What We Offer Competitive salary: £18.43 per hour. Rotating shifts with early/late patterns for flexibility. Opportunities for additional hours during seasonal events. Supportive, team-focused work environment. A professional role within a respected defence catering operation. Benefits 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: Free meals Onsite free car parking Contributory pension scheme Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families About Us Part of Compass Group UK&I, ESS is the Defence, Government, and Energy services sector of Compass Group UK & Ireland. We support 250 UK military establishments, high profile police, secure environments and government sites, along with a range of onshore and offshore facilities including platforms, drilling rigs, floatels and offices for the energy sector. We know that a friendly face makes all the difference, so we look for people who are passionate about delivering excellent customer service, at all levels, to join our teams. Job Reference: com/1411/94373001/52775565/SU Defence 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!