Head Chef – Events | Premium Catering Company
Position: Full-Time | Senior Kitchen Role
Salary: £55k - £60k + Benefits
We’re looking for a talented and experienced Head Chef to lead a fast-paced, high-performing production team for one of London’s premier events catering business. This is a fantastic opportunity for a motivated culinary professional to oversee the delivery of world-class event cuisine while managing production, team development, and operational excellence.
About the Role
Reporting to the Culinary Director, you will be responsible for leading the brigade in delivering exceptional food for a wide range of events — from intimate tastings to large-scale productions. You’ll champion British heritage cuisine, implement efficient systems, and play a key leadership role in ensuring quality, consistency, and innovation across the kitchen.
Key Responsibilities
1. Kitchen Leadership & Team Culture
2. Oversee the events kitchen team to ensure exceptional food production for events and tastings
3. Lead daily briefings and weekly planning meetings with the core brigade
4. Uphold and represent the company’s values in every aspect of kitchen operations
5. Foster a collaborative, client-focused, and motivated team environment
Menu & Culinary Development
6. Source high-quality ingredients, championing independent and emerging suppliers
7. Collaborate with sous chefs on new dish development and seasonal menu planning
8. Ensure all recipes are costed accurately, with detailed spec sheets and allergen documentation
9. Stay current with industry trends and British culinary traditions
Operational Oversight
10. Lead the logistics and production for all events, ensuring flawless delivery
11. Implement and maintain clear kitchen SOPs for consistency and efficiency
12. Manage food ordering, prep, delivery checks, and allergen compliance
13. Collaborate closely with Event Managers to ensure budgets and timelines are met
Health, Safety & Hygiene
14. Oversee HACCP compliance, risk assessments, and allergen tracking
15. Lead and improve daily and weekly cleaning protocols
16. Maintain standards in line with EHO guidelines and ensure an FSA 5-star hygiene rating
Team Development & Scheduling
17. Recruit, onboard, and train new team members at all levels
18. Manage rotas and workforce planning, ensuring adequate cover for all events
19. Conduct appraisals and support employee development and wellbeing
20. Build a strong pool of reliable freelance/temp chefs to support busy periods
Performance Indicators
21. Client satisfaction and event feedback
22. Delivery of target food gross profit
23. Team retention and morale
24. Hygiene compliance and EHO reports
25. Labour cost control and reporting accuracy
What We're Looking For
26. Proven experience in a senior events or high-end catering kitchen role
27. Strong leadership and team-building capabilities
28. In-depth understanding of seasonal British cuisine and current culinary trends
29. Ability to manage logistics and multi-event operations with precision
30. Excellent communication, organisation, and problem-solving skills