Restaurant Associates UK
Head Chef
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Head Chef
Head Chef
Location: RAF Museum London, Hendon
Salary: Up to £45,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time 40 hours, 5 out of 7 days per week
As the Head Chef at the RAF Museum London, you will play a key role within one of the UK’s most historic and inspiring aviation attractions, leading and developing the culinary offering across the site. This role will be responsible for all food offerings on site, from the retail visitor café to the conference & events catering operation.
This venue is predominantly retail food-led, so an individual with experience of high-volume, high-quality food delivery would be ideal for this role. Success in this position means that visitors consistently enjoy the food served across the site, whether dining in the café or attending conferences and events at the RAF Museum London.
What Can We Offer You
- A collaborative and inclusive culture, where your ideas are valued, and creativity is encouraged.
- 20 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays and national holiday days).
- Excellent pension programme with generous contribution from us.
- Free parking on-site.
- Free staff meals whilst on site.
- Access to Compass Group company perks & benefits.
- Perks for Works discounts and promotions.
- Access to training, mentoring and development, with support from our wider Restaurant Associates and Compass Group UK networks.
- On-site F&B discounts.
Responsibilities
- Menu Development & Innovation – Create and adapt menus that appeal to a broad visitor base, including family-friendly options, dietary requirements, and seasonal specials.
- Operational Excellence – Oversee all kitchen operations, ensuring compliance with food safety legislation, company policies, and contractual obligations.
- Leadership & Team Development – Recruit, train, and inspire a motivated kitchen team, fostering a positive and professional working culture.
- Cost Control & Profitability – Manage budgets, control wastage, and achieve GP targets without compromising quality.
- Collaboration – Work closely with front-of-house teams, site management, and the client to deliver a consistent and memorable food experience.
- Event Catering – Plan, execute, and oversee high-volume catering for large-scale events, ensuring exceptional quality and seamless service across all outlets.
- Multi-Day Operations Management – Ensure kitchens and cafes run smoothly across a 7-day operational schedule, maintaining high standards and efficiency throughout the week.
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About You
- Proven track record as a Head Chef in a high-volume, high-quality environment.
- Experience within visitor attractions and contract catering is highly desirable.
- Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to lead by example.
- Excellent organisational skills, especially during peak periods.
- Sound knowledge of food trends, allergens, and dietary requirements.
- Demonstrated ability to achieve financial targets while maintaining high quality.
- Good IT and Microsoft Office skills.
- Passionate about food and hospitality with a strong customer focus.
- Adaptable and resilient in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment.
- Creative, commercially aware, and results driven.
- Committed to sustainability and responsible sourcing.
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About Us
Restaurant Associates is a leading premium hospitality provider with an ethos drawn from our history of fine and high-quality dining in London and New York.
Within our venues team, we provide catering and hospitality services to some of the most iconic visitor attractions and destinations in the UK including the Imperial War Museum London, Glyndebourne Opera House, Knebworth House, Design Museum, Whipsnade Zoo and many more. Within these amazing venues we operate a host of bespoke cafés and restaurants, as well as delivering private events ranging from small meetings to large-scale ground events of up to 1000 people. You can find a full list of our venues on our website.
We pride ourselves on being an inclusive, diverse, fun, and dynamic place to work with opportunities to collaborate with a wide range of teams plus a commitment to putting our people first. Restaurant Associates is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds. As a business, we are committed to sustainability led practices and are proud to have achieved 3 stars with the Sustainable Restaurant Association’s Food Made Good Programme.
Job Reference: com/0207/44197001/52791122/R/SU #RA Venues
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