Job Introduction
Culinary Lead
Location: Mobile, Candidate to be based in the South East (national travel required)
Salary: Competitive Salary plus benefits package
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a passionate and commercially aware Culinary Lead to join our Business & Industry team. This is a mobile role with regular national travel.
You will play a key role in driving culinary excellence, supporting operational teams, and ensuring our food offer remains innovative, relevant, and market-leading. Working closely with central and onsite teams, you will coach, influence, and support the consistent delivery of our managed food offer across the estate.
Key Responsibilities
- Continuously monitor and provide insight into emerging food trends, core concepts, and innovation across the high street, nationally and internationally, ensuring the business remains at the forefront of food.
- Provide hands-on support with the mobilisation of new contracts and site refurbishments.
- Drive, support, and coach units to actively participate in the B&I managed offer.
- Support units in achieving consistent GP through accurate delivery of concepts, offers, and procedures.
- Ensure unit chef teams and operations teams drive sales through implementation of central marketing offers and operational best practice.
- Coach and develop unit culinary teams to ensure required standards are achieved at all times.
- Build strong relationships with onsite culinary teams to inspire and develop capability.
- Develop and maintain strong working relationships with existing and prospective clients, supporting operational and sales teams in influencing client decisions.
- Maintain regular contact with sites through planned visits and remote engagement within the geographical area.
- Support the trial and testing of new offers, ensuring alignment with sector requirements.
- Attend key events and launches, representing the Business & Industry sector.
- Build effective relationships with Operations, Marketing, Culinary teams, Commercial departments, and suppliers.
- Deliver onsite culinary training and support as required by business needs.
- Support delivery of the overall culinary strategy for Business & Industry.
About you
Essential
- Genuine passion for food and emerging food trends
- Strong craft-based culinary background operating at a senior culinary level with multi-site experience
- Proven ability to interpret and communicate food trends to varied audiences
- Experience in food, menu, and recipe development
- Excellent communication and presentation skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Ability to quickly learn company-specific IT systems
- Flexible approach to working hours and travel
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects under pressure
- Full, current UK driving licence
Desirable
- Experience coaching or supporting teams
- Understanding or experience within contract catering
- Culinary Apprenticeship Level 4 or above
If you thrive in a fast-paced, food-led environment and enjoy influencing culinary standards at scale, this role offers an excellent opportunity to make a national impact.
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!