At Vacherin, our values are at the heart of everything we do. We are Precise in delivering exceptional food and service, Personal in the way we build genuine relationships and care for others, and Bold in embracing new ideas, creativity and innovation. Together, we create memorable experiences for our clients while supporting each other to grow and succeed. 

Are you passionate about food, drink and exceptional service? Would you like to join an award-winning hospitality team and still make it home for dinner? We're looking for a Head Chef to join our team in  Newcastle Upon Tyne.

Salary: £37,000 per annum + paid overtime

Working Pattern: Monday - Friday, 40 hours per week, 7:30am - 4pm

Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE4 5DE

Key Responsibilities:

• Take full ownership of the day-to-day kitchen operation, maintaining consistently high food and presentation standards.
• Create fresh, nutritious menus for the staff restaurant, alongside bespoke hospitality and fine-dining menus.
• Deliver a range of hospitality including canapés, buffets, networking events and client tastings.
• Work closely with the management team and client to develop flexible, tailored menus and respond positively to changing requests.
• Plan menus in advance, manage ordering, stock, food costs and kitchen organisation.
• Maintain excellent food safety, hygiene and compliance standards.
• Lead by example in a small, hands-on kitchen, working independently with support from a Kitchen Porter.
• Support evening events when required, with additional paid overtime available for eligible events.

Our Ideal Candidate:

• An experienced Head Chef or strong Senior Sous Chef ready to take ownership of their own kitchen.
• A confident and highly skilled cook with experience delivering both high-volume daily food and premium hospitality or fine dining.
• Creative with menus and passionate about fresh, nutritious and beautifully presented food.
• Comfortable working independently in a small kitchen where you will be very hands-on.
• Energetic, flexible and solutions-focused, with a genuine can-do attitude.
• Strong client-facing skills and the personality to build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Organised, reliable and able to adapt quickly to bespoke client requests.
• Someone who takes pride in their work and is excited about bringing fresh ideas and positive change to the operation.

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  
• Access to Healthcare Support App which includes Annual health check, Digital GP, Mental Health Consultations, Nutritional Consultations, Second Medical Opinion 
• 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  

Job Reference: com/2910/48862001/52843331/SU #Vacherin

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!