Join Us as Director of Culinary Innovation & Operations
Are you a strategic culinary leader with a bold vision, a passion for innovation, and a track record of operational excellence? This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of a dynamic, fast-growing food program. As a site-based Director of Culinary Innovation & Operations, you'll lead a talented and expanding kitchen team, serving a community that has nearly doubled in size since 2021 - with more growth on the horizon.
In this role, you'll drive the evolution of our culinary offerings, play a key role in designing kitchen infrastructure for our planned future move, and guide the team through ongoing change in a collaborative, high-energy environment. We’re looking for a creative, commercially astute leader who thrives at both the strategic and operational levels from big-picture planning to the heat of service.
Location: Central London
Rate of pay: £65,000 - £75,000 per annum depending on experience
Working pattern: Monday - Friday with shifts usually from 6.30/7am to 3/3.30pm
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Culinary Leadership
* Drive innovation and ongoing improvement of the food offer in line with evolving needs and expectations.
* Introduce and champion new concepts, seasonal updates, and customer-led enhancements
* Translate long-term culinary vision into scalable, practical solutions.
Kitchen Planning & Infrastructure
* Serve as a critical stakeholder in the design and planning of the future new kitchen facility.
* Lead on flow, logistics, equipment decisions, and capacity planning.
* Provide future-facing insight to ensure the space supports evolving culinary needs.
Team Growth & Development
* Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 20+ staff, scaling effectively as demand grows.
* Promote a supportive, high-performance culture rooted in collaboration and ownership.
* Manage recruitment, onboarding, training, and performance reviews.
Operational & Financial Oversight
* Oversee kitchen ordering, cost control, inventory, and supplier management.
* Ensure compliance with all health, safety, and hygiene standards.
* Own and maintain food safety systems, audits, and recordkeeping.
Digital & Administrative Excellence
* Demonstrate strong proficiency in Excel, including the ability to build and manage cost models, forecasts, inventory tracking, labour planning, and reporting dashboards.
* Utilise digital systems confidently — including ordering platforms, compliance tools, time management software, and audit logs — to streamline kitchen operations and uphold accountability.
* Maintain exceptional attention to detail in recordkeeping, documentation, and compliance tracking, ensuring nothing is overlooked in a high-paced environment.
* Confidently interpret data to make informed operational decisions, and communicate insights clearly to stakeholders.
* Take ownership of digital accuracy, with the same level of discipline and consistency expected in food safety and kitchen execution.
What We’re Looking For
* Experience leading large teams or multi-site operations (café, restaurant, hotel, or contract catering).
* Background in mobilising new kitchens or hospitality spaces.
* Deep culinary knowledge with a flair for innovation and creativity.
* Calm under pressure and comfortable making quick, effective decisions.
* Confident with digital tools (Excel, compliance systems, operational software).
* Strong interpersonal skills and a natural collaborator.
Why This Role is Unique?
* You’ll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of food at this site.
* Be part of a highly collaborative, thoughtful team where ideas are heard and change is embraced.
* Lead in a workplace where growth, innovation, and vision are not buzzwords -they’re daily practice.
What's in it for you?
Working with Vacherin has its perks! People are at the heart of everything we do, so we've developed a range of benefits to keep you happy.
* Personal Development and Training opportunities
* Life assurance scheme
* Pension scheme
* Holiday allowance
* Private medical eligibility
* Eye care
* A great wellbeing strategy – including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, salary finance
* Family friendly support
* Regular social events and communication with our leaders
* A holiday purchase scheme
* Volunteering days
* Professional subscriptions
* Recognition schemes and people awards
* Long service awards
* Access to some great high street discount vouchers
Vacherin officially formed part of CH&CO Catering Group Ltd in 2021.
Partnerships, Innovation, Integrity, Quality, Fun