We have an exciting opportunity to become our new Executive Chef at one of our Conference Venues in Oxford.
£55,000pa working 40 hours per week, 5 out of 7 days
Do you love creating stunning restaurant food and are looking for work hours that give you a work-life balance like no other sector in the hospitality industry?
Wilson Vale is an established, quality-led contract caterer. We work with amazing clients across the UK who place huge value on great food as a key part of their culture and community. We work in office restaurants, independent schools and at conference venues with the same high-end ethos throughout.
Our culture unites us. We stand for craft, quality, creative freedom, forward thinking and integrity. We never compromise on our commitment to fresh, seasonal produce and the fantastic people that make it all happen!
The Executive Chef for Wilson Vale is responsible for overseeing all culinary operations within a catering facility that delivers food services to clients across corporate offices, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities. This role combines strong culinary expertise with effective leadership and management skills to ensure the consistent delivery of high-quality food, in line with contractual requirements, food safety standards, and health & safety policies.
Food & Detail
1. Demonstrate creativity and innovation, adapting ideas and menus to meet customer needs.
2. Use fresh ingredients and follow a “little and often” cooking approach during service.
3. Manage and maintain high standards of front-of-house presentation.
4. Implement promotions and themed or special days to enhance the overall food offering.
5. Ensure that any changes or substitutions to ingredients are communicated to the Manager and all relevant staff, and that menus are updated accordingly.
6. Carry out customer satisfaction programmes to monitor and improve service quality.
7. Undertake special projects as directed by the Area Manager.
8. Build strong client relationships and attend meetings where appropriate.
9. Plan, prepare, and present menus to a high standard.
Team & Training
10. Lead, inspire, and motivate the catering team, promoting a “nothing is too much trouble” service culture.
11. Ensure all staff are trained to allow for multitasking, supporting smooth unit operations and, where possible, a self-covering team.
12. Encourage staff engagement by motivating team members to share new ideas and explore improved ways of working.
13. Manage staff effectively to ensure tasks are completed within agreed timeframes, maintaining operational efficiency.
14. Recruit, train, and develop team members under your supervision.
15. Identify training and development needs through regular reviews and appraisal processes.
16. Design and deliver structured training programmes to support team growth and performance.
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
17. LOVE food, and love working in a team.
18. Positive attitude
19. Have good customer service skills and strong communication skills.
20. Be able to work in a high-pressured environment.
21. Strong premium hospitality experience in another venue
22. Local knowledge and experience working in the area
23. A passion for exceptional service is essential
24. Strong understanding of service styles, food trends
25. Innovation and creativity
26. A passion for training and development
27. Exceptional presentation skills
28. Articulate and very well organised
29. Proactive and reliable
OUR CULTURE:
30. Craft at our core – we pride ourselves on our craft-skilled chefs who create wonderful fresh food from scratch.
31. t’s all about the food – the menu is the most important document our chefs write every week.
32. Quality, seasonal ingredients – 300+ British suppliers and our chefs can source locally.
33. Freedom to create – our teams love to cook up exciting food themes and pop-ups to keep the food fun.
34. Support like no other – our business was founded by family and we have stayed true to those same family values of nurturing development, protecting our values and building trust and loyalty.
35. Making food that not only tastes great but is good for the planet. We have always had a strong environmental ethos and are dedicated to our social and environmental commitments.
36. We believe in tailored training and opportunities to build your career with us.
WILSON VALE PERKS:
37. Our working hours are some of the best you'll find in catering - we are strong believers in work-life balance
38. Our working environment is fun and inspiring, with excellent career development opportunities
39. Craft Works – Free craft-focused career development training programme
40. Paid training bespoke to you
41. Access to our Employee Assistance Programme- your wellbeing is very important to us
42. Online employee benefits scheme - monetary savings on everyday items!
43. Your Birthday off every year after 1 years’ service.
44. Enhanced Maternity Pay