What You'll Be Doing

• Leading the full pre-opening mobilisation of the culinary operation across all outlets - recruitment, team build, menu development, systems, training, standards and launch readiness
• Building a high-performing, diverse and inclusive kitchen team of 30-40 that reflects both the luxury hospitality industry and the breadth of London’s talent
• Taking culinary ownership across all food outlets, including the two restaurants, event spaces, café-bar lounge and co-working areas, with accountability for food quality, consistency, cost control and profitability
• Developing and overseeing distinct food concepts simultaneously, including upscale Italian dining, Japanese/Mexican-influenced cuisine and an Ottolenghi-style deli offer
• Driving the food element of the events and private hire programme in partnership with the wider events team - from intimate receptions and corporate launches through to gala dinners and large-scale productions
• Building and managing relationships with suppliers, partners and key stakeholders, positioning Town Hall by Bottaccio as a go-to culinary destination in the capital
• Working closely with RHC’s central support functions (marketing, finance, HR and technology) to ensure the kitchen operation is commercially aligned and operationally robust
• Setting and maintaining the highest standards of food quality, presentation and guest experience across every outlet
• Developing your Head Chefs and wider kitchen leadership team through coaching, mentorship and structured succession planning, in line with RHC’s people and culture values

What We're Looking For

An experienced, commercially driven Executive Head Chef or senior culinary leader with a proven track record in premium, multi-outlet environments. You will have opened venues, led large kitchen teams, and held genuine ownership of food standards and cost. Most importantly, you will know how to build a kitchen culture, inspire a team and deliver an exceptional culinary experience consistently at the highest level.

A background in luxury hotels, large-scale membership clubs or premium multi-concept venues is ideal. This role suits a chef who thrives in both the build phase and the operational phase - someone energised by creating structure, culture and standards from the ground up.

Essential

• Significant senior leadership experience in premium, multi-outlet food operations
• Proven experience leading pre-opening or large-scale kitchen mobilisation projects
• Strong commercial acumen with direct responsibility for food cost and margin across multiple outlets
• Exceptional people-leadership skills - a builder of teams and a developer of talent
• Experience managing complex stakeholder relationships including suppliers, ownership groups and senior leadership
• A thorough understanding of luxury guest-experience standards and how to deliver them consistently at scale
• Strong knowledge of food across a range of cuisines and formats, including upscale Italian, Japanese/Mexican and deli-style offerings

Desirable

• Experience within a private members’ club, luxury hotel or comparable premium hospitality environment
• An existing network across London’s luxury hospitality and culinary markets

Good to know

Town Hall by Bottaccio opens in Autumn/Winter 2026, and this appointment is being made ahead of that to allow proper mobilisation time. The Food and Beverage Director joining now will be central to every decision made between appointment and opening day - and well beyond it.

There will be pressure and high expectations. This is a flagship venue for RHC and for the Il Bottaccio partnership, and it will operate under significant scrutiny from the industry and from a discerning membership and guest base. That said, the support on offer is exceptional.

As part of RHC and Oak View Group, the Executive Head Chef will have a large culinary team, a well-resourced support office, and a business that is genuinely invested in making this one of London's defining hospitality openings.

Package

Excellent salary commensurate with experience, plus a strong bonus structure; 40% food and beverage discount across all RHC restaurants and bars; private healthcare and enhanced company pension, life assurance and income protection plus cross-exposure to the wider RHC and OVG business, including events and venues across London and beyond.

Our Inclusion Commitments

OVG is for everyone. Diversity drives innovation, strengthens our people, improves our service, and raises our excellence.

Wherever you come from, wherever you are going, we’d love to hear from you.

If you need any additional support or adjustments with your application, let us know and we will work with you to ensure you have everything you need.

Employee Screening and Eligibility to Work

In line with the requirements of the Asylum & Immigration Act 1996, all applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. Documented evidence of eligibility will be required from candidates as part of the recruitment process.