Job Description
* Job Title: Lead Events Chef
* Location: Royal Academy of Arts
* £50,000 Salary + up to 10% bonus
* 40hrs pw, 5 over 7, early mornings - late evenings
Job Introduction
Heritage Portfolio is delighted to be recruiting for a dynamic Lead Events Chef. This role is perfect for someone looking to take the next step up!
Reporting to the Head of Events, you will lead all culinary aspects of events across five cultural destinations: the Wallace Collection, The Royal Academy of Arts, Trinity House, Lancaster House, and Insurance Hall. Your focus will be on excellence in food preparation, safety, and service across all events and client tastings. The successful candidate will be able to work independently and manage a team of nine, upholding high operational and food safety standards, and ensuring timely, quality delivery that exceeds client expectations.
This role is ideal for someone interested in high-end events serving high-profile guests in historic buildings.
If you’re passionate about leading a dynamic kitchen team and delivering exceptional culinary experiences, we’d love to hear from you.
What You'll Do:
* Understand and embody the vision of Sodexo Live and Heritage Portfolio to ensure consistent, high-quality event delivery.
* Participate in menu design, innovation, costing, and specification, supporting revenue growth, PR, and client satisfaction.
* Lead daily kitchen operations, including managing casual labor, kitchen organization, and compliance with food safety, allergen, and waste policies.
* Oversee menu photography and clearly communicate food, equipment, service flow, and customer experience for each event.
* Manage ordering to meet event specifications and budgets while minimizing waste, following established procedures.
* Collaborate closely with on-site event managers and the SQ team to build strong, positive relationships.
* Ensure strict adherence to all company and client policies, including health & safety, hygiene, HR, and statutory regulations; report incidents promptly.
* Participate in training, team meetings, and perform additional duties as assigned by senior team members.
What You Bring:
Essential
* Experience in high-volume environments such as major events or banqueting operations
* Background in fine dining from hotels, restaurants, or contract catering
* A passion for the catering industry—knowledge of current trends, regular visits to interesting restaurants, enthusiasm for food
* Strong communication skills and ability to present to colleagues, peers, and clients
* Financial awareness, including understanding of food profit and loss, controlling food costs, and maintaining a positive food margin
* Excellent organizational and planning skills
* Intermediate Food Hygiene qualification
* Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
* Proven leadership experience managing a team of chefs
Desirable
* Supervising Food Safely Level 3 qualification
* IOSH Managing Safely or similar qualification
* Previous experience as a Sous Chef or Head Chef in a smaller operation
* Experience in retail food operations
* Knowledge or experience in production kitchens
* Experience working with clients in contract catering
* Experience in staff training and development
What we offer:
Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it’s a chance to be part of something greater. You’ll belong to a company and team that values you; act with purpose; and can thrive in your own way. We offer resources, rewards, and benefits, including:
* Unlimited access to mental health and wellbeing support platforms
* Employee Assistance Programme for personal and work-related issues
* Free health and wellbeing app with rewards, 24hr virtual GP, and other services
* Sodexo Discounts Scheme and cashback prepayment card
* Financial benefits via the Salary Finance Platform
* Sodexo Retirement Plan membership
* Death-in-Service benefit
* Opportunities for career growth and development
* Cycle to Work Scheme
* Volunteering opportunities
* Flexible, dynamic work environment
* Competitive pay, full training, and protective uniform
Ready to be part of something greater? Apply today! Career progression for the caring profession.
Sodexo reserves the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of applications.
About Sodexo
At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better every day for everyone. Operating in 55 countries, we serve over 100 million consumers daily through various services, including On-Site Food, FM Services, Benefits & Rewards, and Personal & Home Services.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer, welcoming applications from diverse backgrounds and experiences. We encourage participation in our Employee Networks such as Pride, Sodexo Parents & Carers, Sodexo Disability, and others.
We are a Disability Confident Leader employer, committed to changing attitudes towards disability and ensuring disabled people have opportunities to succeed. We run a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria.
Click here to learn more about our inclusive culture.
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