Director of Culinary Innovation and Operations
| Dyddiad hysbysebu: | 22 Mai 2025 |
|---|---|
| Cyflog: | Heb ei nodi |
| Gwybodaeth ychwanegol am y cyflog: | Competitive |
| Oriau: | Llawn Amser |
| Dyddiad cau: | 21 Mehefin 2025 |
| Lleoliad: | London |
| Cwmni: | Compass Group |
| Math o swydd: | Parhaol |
| Cyfeirnod swydd: | 189276 |
Crynodeb
Join Us as Director of Culinary Innovation & Operations
Are you a strategic culinary leader with a bold vision, a passion for innovation, and a track record of operational excellence? This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of a dynamic, fast-growing food program. As a site-based Director of Culinary Innovation & Operations, you\\'ll lead a talented and expanding kitchen team, serving a community that has nearly doubled in size since 2021 - with more growth on the horizon.
In this role, you\\'ll drive the evolution of our culinary offerings, play a key role in designing kitchen infrastructure for our planned future move, and guide the team through ongoing change in a collaborative, high-energy environment. We’re looking for a creative, commercially astute leader who thrives at both the strategic and operational levels from big-picture planning to the heat of service.
Location: Central London
Rate of pay: £65,000 - £75,000 per annum depending on experience
Working pattern: Monday - Friday with shifts usually from 6.30/7am to 3/3.30pm
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Culinary Leadership
- Drive innovation and ongoing improvement of the food offer in line with evolving needs and expectations.
- Introduce and champion new concepts, seasonal updates, and customer-led enhancements
- Translate long-term culinary vision into scalable, practical solutions.
Kitchen Planning & Infrastructure
- Serve as a critical stakeholder in the design and planning of the future new kitchen facility.
- Lead on flow, logistics, equipment decisions, and capacity planning.
- Provide future-facing insight to ensure the space supports evolving culinary needs.
Team Growth & Development
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 20+ staff, scaling effectively as demand grows.
- Promote a supportive, high-performance culture rooted in collaboration and ownership.
- Manage recruitment, onboarding, training, and performance reviews.
Operational & Financial Oversight
- Oversee kitchen ordering, cost control, inventory, and supplier management.
- Ensure compliance with all health, safety, and hygiene standards.
- Own and maintain food safety systems, audits, and recordkeeping.
Digital & Administrative Excellence
- Demonstrate strong proficiency in Excel, including the ability to build and manage cost models, forecasts, inventory tracking, labour planning, and reporting dashboards.
- Utilise digital systems confidently — including ordering platforms, compliance tools, time management software, and audit logs — to streamline kitchen operations and uphold accountability.
- Maintain exceptional attention to detail in recordkeeping, documentation, and compliance tracking, ensuring nothing is overlooked in a high-paced environment.
- Confidently interpret data to make informed operational decisions, and communicate insights clearly to stakeholders.
- Take ownership of digital accuracy, with the same level of discipline and consistency expected in food safety and kitchen execution.
What We’re Looking For
- Experience leading large teams or multi-site operations (café, restaurant, hotel, or contract catering).
- Background in mobilising new kitchens or hospitality spaces.
- Deep culinary knowledge with a flair for innovation and creativity.
- Calm under pressure and comfortable making quick, effective decisions.
- Confident with digital tools (Excel, compliance systems, operational software).
- Strong interpersonal skills and a natural collaborator.
Why This Role is Unique?
- You’ll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of food at this site.
- Be part of a highly collaborative, thoughtful team where ideas are heard and change is embraced.
- Lead in a workplace where growth, innovation, and vision are not buzzwords -they’re daily practice.
What\\'s in it for you?
Working with Vacherin has its perks! People are at the heart of everything we do, so we\\'ve developed a range of benefits to keep you happy.
- Personal Development and Training opportunities
- Life assurance scheme
- Pension scheme
- Holiday allowance
- Private medical eligibility
- Eye care
- A great wellbeing strategy – including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, salary finance
- Family friendly support
- Regular social events and communication with our leaders
- A holiday purchase scheme
- Volunteering days
- Professional subscriptions
- Recognition schemes and people awards
- Long service awards
- Access to some great high street discount vouchers
Vacherin officially formed part of CH&CO Catering Group Ltd in 2021.
Partnerships, Innovation, Integrity, Quality, Fun