Sous Chef - Rock Barracks, Woodbridge Employer: ESS - Compass Group UK & Ireland Pay & Hours £16.65 per hour 37.5 hours per week (5 out of 7 days) 1 x 30-minute unpaid break per shift Early shift: 06:30 - 15:00 Late shift: 11:00 - 19:30 2-week rotating shift pattern Meal Service Times: Breakfast - 07:00 to 08:30 ☕ Mid-morning - 09:30 to 11:00 Lunch - 12:15 to 13:30 ️ Dinner - 17:15 to 18:00 Benefits Free on-site parking ️ Use of on-site gym ️ Free meal on shift Uniforms provided Excellent career development and support pathways Great work-life balance within a supportive team About the Role We’re recruiting an experienced and motivated Sous Chef to join the ESS catering team at Rock Barracks, Woodbridge. You’ll be working across two busy kitchens, helping to prepare and serve meals for around 180 service personnel. This is a fantastic opportunity to work as part of a large, professional kitchen team of 30, supporting Defence catering with pride and excellence. Key Responsibilities Prepare and serve high-quality meals across all service times Support the Head Chef in menu planning, stock control, and daily kitchen management Maintain the highest food safety and hygiene standards Supervise, train, and support kitchen team members Ensure consistent quality and efficient service across both kitchens Contribute ideas for menu development and service improvements What We’re Looking For Previous experience in a similar kitchen role (Sous Chef or Senior Chef de Partie) Computer literate with strong organisational skills City & Guilds 706/1 & 2 or NVQ equivalent Food Hygiene Certificate Excellent teamwork and communication skills Passion for great food and customer service ❤️ Must have own transport - site is not accessible via public transport 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: 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/0810/95391001/52503117/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!