ESS – Defence, Energy and Government Services
Head Chef
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MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol
Monday to Friday | 06:30-15:30
40 Hours per Week
Salary: £40,319 per annum
Full UK Driving Licence and 5 Years UK Residency Required
We're looking for an experienced Head Chef to lead a large-scale catering operation at MOD Abbey Wood. This is an excellent opportunity for a passionate culinary leader to oversee multiple catering outlets, hospitality services, and support retail cafés while driving food quality, service excellence, and team performance.
About The Role
You will:
- Lead Back of House (BOH) and Front of House (FOH) operations across restaurants, kitchens, and hospitality services
- Deliver exceptional food quality, presentation, and customer service
- Manage hospitality and event catering, including menu planning and costing
- Ensure full compliance with Food Safety and Health & Safety standards
- Oversee ordering, stock control, budgets, and waste management
- Recruit, develop, and motivate a high-performing team
- Manage rotas and labour planning to support operational efficiency
- Drive continuous improvement and maintain company standards
About You
- Experienced Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef within a multi-outlet catering environment
- Strong leader with a proven track record of developing successful teams
- Passionate about food, service, and high standards
- Experienced in BOH, FOH, hospitality, and retail catering operations
- Commercially aware with strong budget management skills
- Organised, adaptable, and able to perform under pressure
- Strong communication and IT skills
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If you're a hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is committed to delivering exceptional food and service, we'd love to hear from you.
Benefits
We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:
- Contributory pension scheme
- Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
- Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
- Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
- Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
- Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
- Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
- Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
- You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families
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About Us
Part of Compass Group UK&I, ESS is the Defence, Government, and Energy services sector of Compass Group UK & Ireland. We support 250+ UK military establishments, high profile police, secure environments and government sites, along with a range of onshore and offshore facilities including platforms, drilling rigs, floatels and offices for the energy sector. We know that a friendly face makes all the difference, so we look for people who are passionate about delivering excellent customer service, at all levels, to join our teams.
Job Reference: com/2807/99714001/52790905/SU #Defence
Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!
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