Head Chef

The role

The University of Bristol Catering department (Source) have a rare and exciting Head Chef opportunity for the right person. We are passionate about serving high-quality, responsibly-sourced meals to our vibrant community of students, staff, and visitors. We believe in the power of good food to bring people together and enhance the campus experience. As a part of our team, you will have the unique opportunity to contribute to a sustainable and innovative dining environment that prioritizes the welfare of people and the planet. 

We are currently seeking a highly skilled and motivated Head Chef to join our dynamic team. This is a fantastic opportunity for a culinary professional who is dedicated to excellence, passionate about food, and committed to maintaining the highest standards in meal preparation and kitchen operations. 

The position comes on a 35 hour/week contract, with paid overtime, 25 days annual leave plus 8 days for bank holidays and a further 6-9 days for university closure days. If you are looking for a role that offers a supportive work-life balance, opportunities for creativity and innovation, and the chance to make a real impact, we invite you to apply and become a part of our mission to create a better dining experience at the University of Bristol. 

What will you be doing?

Menu Design
Plan balanced, nutritious menus using seasonal, local ingredients, tailored to dietary needs.

Kitchen Management
Oversee daily food preparation, cooking, and presentation. Ensure cleanliness, safety, and proper equipment care.

Staff Supervision
Recruit, train, and evaluate staff. Provide coaching, schedule shifts, and manage labour costs.

Inventory & Budget
Order, receive, and store supplies. Control food and labour costs, reduce waste, and improve efficiency.

Health & Safety
Maintain sanitation standards, conduct training, record compliance, and address allergens and safety concerns.

Community Engagement
Gather feedback, host cooking classes and nutrition events, and promote healthy, sustainable eating.

You should apply if

• You have Level 3 qualification in cooking or equivalent practical experience.
• Have a high level of culinary skill with the ability to produce food for student meals, conferences and functions, high street restaurant, special occasions.
• Proven ability to prepare and present food to a high standard.
• Level 3 Food Safety qualification.
• Senior kitchen management experience across a range of catering establishments, ideally including catering, hotels and/or restaurants, education.
• Strong understanding of the differing customer needs within a University environment.
• Good knowledge of catering budgets, food costs and procurement.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.
• Experience as a senior chef, ideally in both educational and commercial operations.

Additional information

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on 15th October.

For informal queries about the role, please contact Louise Rose, hrxlc@bristol.ac.uk

You can learn more about Campus Operations department and hear some of our staff stories via our careers microsite.

Our strategy and mission

We recently launched our strategy to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.

The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives – particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.

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