Executive Chef - McLaren Technology Centre (Woking)
Full-Time | Monday-Friday (40 hrs/week) | Some evenings/weekends for events
We are looking for a passionate and commercially astute Executive Chef to lead culinary operations at the prestigious McLaren Technology Centre. This is a high-impact, senior kitchen leadership role overseeing retail, fine dining, VIP hospitality, and bespoke event catering - all set within one of the UK's most iconic technology and performance engineering campuses.
As the Executive Chef, you'll be accountable for developing innovative food concepts, leading a talented culinary team, and ensuring consistency, quality, and financial performance across all food service areas. This is a rare opportunity to shape food experiences for global partners, sponsors, the McLaren executive team, shareholders, and internal teams alike.
Drive and evolve the day-to-day staff catering offer across a large workforce, with an emphasis on value, quality, and participation. Hospitality & Events: Lead a £2M+ annual hospitality and events operation serving executive stakeholders, clients, and VIPs. Manage recruitment, training, succession planning, and apprentice development. Foster a positive and high-performance kitchen culture.
Financial & Operational Management: Ensure cost-effective operations across food purchasing, GP, labour planning, and waste management. Drive service consistency and ensure compliance with all food safety regulations.
Client Engagement & Innovation: Work closely with stakeholders across McLaren to build strong relationships, understand their needs, and introduce continuous improvement plans, activations, and innovation in both hospitality and retail food services.
Executive or Head Chef experience in high-end corporate or event catering.
Strong retail food background with a proven track record in driving participation and engagement.
Deep understanding of kitchen financials, including food costing, labour, and stock control.
Strong operational knowledge of food safety and H&S (HACCP).
NVQ Level 3 in Professional Cookery (or equivalent)
Intermediate Food Hygiene / Level 3 Safety Certification
This role combines creative freedom with commercial responsibility - all set within a cutting-edge and globally recognised workplace. If you're passionate about delivering excellence and ready to lead a kitchen that fuels one of the world's most prestigious brands, we want to hear from you.
Restaurant Associates provides brilliant hospitality through our food, drink and services. Every day, our teams of passionate hospitality professionals strive for excellence in delivering employee dining and hospitality to some of the UK's leading workplace as well as inspiring exceptional experiences in iconic cultural and heritage destinations.
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!