Head Chef

Birkbeck, University of London, is excited to announce a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Head Chef at Birkbeck, University of London. It's an exciting time to join us as we are on the look out for the right character to join the staff and help us lead our catering future.

This role will have all areas of the kitchen operation to manage and deliver including retail, restaurant and hospitality offers! With the support of the senior catering management team we will be developing a food brand and ethos that we can be proud of.

As the Head Chef, your responsibilities will include:

• To be the main point of contact for all things culinary at Birkbeck Catering, and to form a pivotal part of the senior catering team 
• To review and improve the retail and hospitality offers and to lead the kitchen team ensuring the operations successes 
• To lead the training, progression and supervision of junior staff (team of 4) which will involve inducting new team members and continually developing the team.

The ideal candidate for the Head Chef role will have:

• Strategic and operational experience of high volume food production in a commercial catering and hospitality environment
• Proven leadership and management skills within commercial kitchens
• In depth practical experience in the production of high quality international cuisine and a strong work ethic
• A diploma in professional cookery or equivalent workplace experience, such as NVQ or vocational experience as a Head Chef.

If you are a culinary professional with a passion for creating exceptional food, and leading a team to success, we would love to hear from you. Apply today to join our team as the Head Chef and contribute to the vibrant food culture at Birkbeck, University of London. 

If you have previously held titles such as Kitchen Manager, Executive Chef, Culinary Manager, Food Service Manager, or University Head Chef, this role could be the perfect next step in your career.

Salary and benefits

£38,981 rising to £44,247 per annum, Grade 6 on the College's London Pay Scale which includes a consolidated London Weighting Allowance. 

Benefits of working at Birkbeck: a competitive salary and pension scheme, 31 days paid leave, flexible working arrangements, generous benefits in the HE sector, and being located in the heart of Bloomsbury, Euston, London.

Contract

Permanent, open-ended contract. Full-time (35 hours per week), working a 5/7 day rota and available to work outside of 9-5pm and inclusive of weekends. 

To apply, please submit an application form and statement. Closing date: Sunday 16 August, interview date: Wednesday 19 August 2026. 

Enquiries

If you would like to know more about the role, please click on apply below or contact Matthew Weston, Head of Food and Beverage m.weston@bbk.ac.uk

If you have technical issues or difficulties using the recruitment portal, please contact jobs@bbk.ac.uk providing your name and the job reference number of the position. While we are happy to respond to all informal enquiries, only formal applications through the online system will be considered.

We welcome applicants from all sections of the community - www.bbk.ac.uk/jobs - The College is committed to improving the gender and cultural diversity of its workforce, holding a bronze Athena SWAN award and operating Disability Confident & Mindful Employer schemes.