Executive Chef - National Theatre

Executive Chef - National Theatre
£62,400 per annum
5 out of 7 days per week
Medicash - Healthcare benefits, including dental, optical and therapy treatments (includes up to 4 dependent children)
Aviva Digicare - Free annual healthcare check
Exclusive Benefits & Wellbeing site (Perks at Work)
Entertainment discounts - up to 55% off cinema tickets
Health & Wellbeing discounts - Discounts for Nuffield Health (20%) and Pure Gym (10%)
Travel discounts - Discounts with holiday companies such as TUI and Expedia
Shopping discounts - Save up to 15% at high street and online stores by purchasing Shopping Cards

Meals on duty
Vodaphone discounts
Pension scheme and Life Assurance
Employee Assistance Programme
23 days + BH’s and an additional day off for your birthday
2 days additional leave, following return from Maternity leave during the first year back
Competitive and supportive family benefits
Day off for baby's 1st birthday
Holiday purchase scheme
On-going training & development and career pathways
Professional subscriptions paid
Financial wellbeing programme and preferred rates on salary finance products
National Theatre Food & Drink
National Theatre Food & Drink is a unique partnership between the NT, Levy UK&I and KERB.

Together we are creating a world class food and drink destination embedded within the heart of the NT’s operations, ensuring all public facing venues as well as internal hospitality and commercial events, support the NT’s overall vision, values, and culture.The NT actively sought to not outsource the catering operation and chose instead to stay actively involved through constructing this new partnership.

This ensures F&D and theatre specialism combine to offer the best experience for our customers.
The Role of Executive Chef
A high-profile opportunity for a dynamic, quality-driven culinary professional, confident in delivery across retail and event spaces, with experience of meeting discerning clientele expectation. A natural leader who leads from the front, inspiring the culinary team to deliver exceptional hospitality and guest experience. Thereby optimising sales and profitability as well as maintaining best-in-class levels of consistency. All underpinned by a structured approach with an appropriate focus on core compliance with relevant company policies, standards and employment principles always held to a high standard.Reporting to the NT Food and Drink Director, and through close liaison with our venue partners, you will be directly responsible for the key result areas and cultural behaviours listed below (amongst other general responsibilities and occasional additional requirements as the business dictates).
Strategy & Development
Strategic aims

- conceptualise and develop clear, costed, contemporary culinary briefs for multiple offerings across the theatre, showcasing seasonal, locally sourced produce to best effect.
Sustainability

- as an ambassador drive sustainable practices throughout to align with Levy Net-Zero commitments through conscious and considered product choices combined with a commitment to reduce food waste.
Creative growth

- identify areas to grow standard fayre into engaging catering options to meet the project expectations of creating a world-class food and drink destination at The National Theatre
External landscape

- keep abreast of and contextualise competitor activity and market trends, ensuring price modelling, menu analysis, theatre programming and other key areas are aligned.
Internal coordination -

effective delegation & efficient comms within the F&D senior team as well as the wider partners and independent outlets to best drive overall project aimsand success.
Operations

Financial Accountability -

use your wealth of experience to ensure rigorous control of all financial aspects within the scope of the department, driving profit through menu plans and utilisation of preferred suppliers.
Inspired Leadership -

bringing passion, process, presence, and attention to detail to both the culinary brigade and wider team, supporting fellow HODs to achieve shared goals and contribution across departments.
Line Management -

of Head Chef to effectively drive culinary team to deliver NT Food and Drink KPIS’s, mentoring and developing team to achieve their personal objectives stay focused.
Consistency

- through unwavering pursuit of excellence and relentless attention to detail, build a reputation through the National Theatre for producing the highest standard of culinary possible.
Compliance

- use available resources effectively to manage Health & Safety, Food safety, costings, specs, allergens, wages, wastage, carbon labelling, and other relevant areas or remit directly impacting performance or compliance in line with relevant laws and company procedures.
People

Culture

- align with colleagues to develop and sustain high levels of energy and engagement, focused on great food and hospitality. Ensure colleagues embody our NT Food and Drink values.
Inclusivity

- challenge yourself to recruit and develop an eclectic, passionate and diverse team, mirroring the demographic of London and nurture a welcoming, positive culture where all are valued equally.
Reward

- recognise and celebrate success, whether large and impactful or modest and meaningful. Ensure consistent and objective salary arrangements are in place and are delivered consistently.
Work Ethic

- lead by example ensuring time is used productively, focused in on key areas, supporting others and managing up when needed to create team resilience and promote wellbeing.
Planning -

acknowledging retention challenges, work closely with our People teams to effectively plan, drive, and oversee recruitment objectives, ensuring staffing levels are adequately maintained and appropriate to business levels.
Development -

take responsibility for the continual development of all culinary colleagues, using the progression of the team to implement succession plans.
Projects

Assets -

through process and diligent working with Head of Operations stay abreast of kitchen equipment issues and take necessary corrective actions to ensure operation is not compromised.
Future -

take the lead in culinary development of new spaces and kitchen fit-outs working closely with NT Food & Drink Managing Director&others to help revitalise spaces as opportunity arises.
Collaboration

- work closely with the NT's brand vision, values, culture, and processes to enable and deliver the NT Food & Drink strategy, driving changes to improve the guest experience.
Stakeholders

-focus on collaboration with NT, KERB Events Ltd stakeholders and contractors to plan and deliver various capex and innovation projects that may be short, medium or long term.
Personal specification

A natural leader

with senior culinary management experience to inspire operational teams to deliver results - min 2 years at Exec. Chef or min. 5 years at Head Chef level in a similar business.
Able to manage up

mature enough to understand the challenges and needs or key senior stakeholders and can ensure confidence is given and solid rationale when work needs more time.
Passionate about food and drink , exceptional quality, and exceptional hospitality is in the bloodstream, driven to motivate and inspire to deliver exceptional experiences daily.
Enthusiastic about people

- enjoys communicating with our key stakeholders as well as the all-important team members that deliver great service day to day whether front or back of house.
Commercially aware -

comfortable working within brand guidelines to deliver results and can stick to and protect agreed briefs so that there is strong cohesion with the ability to flex and adapt to work within budget, (both food and labour) without detriment to quality.
Excellent client and stakeholder management

presence and interpersonal skills. Well versed in clarifying client and customer requirements
Good listening, written and verbal communication skills . Known for collaborative approach. Natural and engaging in dialogue with customers at all levels. Comfortable with basic computing
Calm and resilient.

Not deterred by unexpected or unforeseen challenges, and never one to lose control of temperament in an inappropriate way to undermine, belittle or alienate colleagues.

Who we are:

Levy UK & Ireland is the vibrant and exciting sector of Compass Group, the world’s largest catering company. We work at some of the greatest venues in the world, delivering legendary experiences in food, drink, and hospitality.

In the UK, we are proud to have a wealth of long-standing partnerships with venues across sports, entertainment, and events. Our partnerships include venues such as Wimbledon, Twickenham, Edgbaston, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Principality Stadium, Scottish Event Campus (SEC) and ExCel London.

We are culinary champions - it’s what we do and it’s what we are passionate about. At the core of our work is the belief that sustainably sourced great food and drink, coupled with exceptional service is key to creating legendary experiences.

Focussed on ‘doing the right thing’ for our people and the planet, sustainability, wellbeing, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of what we do.

We have a commitment to being Net Zero by 2027, are official partners of the British Paralympic Association, and are proud to pay all our team members at least the Real Living Wage or London Living Wage.

We collaborate with some of the UK’s most game-changing and well-loved brands, all sharing our vision for bringing best-in-class experiences.

More about the role:

About you:

At Levy UK & Ireland, we take pride in fostering a workplace culture that celebrates diversity and promotes inclusion. We believe that our differences are our greatest strengths, and we are committed to creating an environment where every individual is valued, respected, and empowered.

Our team is a vibrant tapestry of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, which enriches our creativity, innovation, and overall success. We are dedicated to providing equal opportunities, promoting fairness, and ensuring that all voices are heard.

We firmly believe that a diverse team leads to innovation and creativity. We welcome candidates from all walks of life and backgrounds to join us in our mission to create a supportive and equitable work environment where everyone has the chance to excel and collaborate.

Join us in our journey towards a more diverse and inclusive world, where every person has the chance to thrive and contribute their unique talents. Together, we can achieve greatness.