Regional Development Chef

We’re looking for a talented and passionate Regional Development Chef to lead, develop and elevate culinary standards across our catering operation on military sites across Scotland and Northern Ireland. If you’re a hands‑on leader, a creative culinary professional, and someone who thrives in fast‑paced operational environments, this is an exciting opportunity to shape the food experience for service personnel every day.

This is a regional role across Scotland & Northern Ireland; regular travel is a pre‑requisite for this position.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Inspire Culinary Standards & Innovation
• Develop, refine, and roll out high‑quality menus tailored to military site needs.
• Ensure consistent delivery of food quality, presentation, and portion control across all units.
• Lead culinary innovation, seasonal menu changes, and recipe development.
• Support & Train Site‑Based Chef Teams
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and on‑the‑job training to chefs at multiple sites.
• Identify skills gaps and deliver training sessions to upskill teams.
• Support with onboarding new chefs, ensuring they meet food safety and service standards.
• Drive Operational Excellence
• Conduct regular kitchen audits to ensure compliance with HACCP, H&S regulations, Defence Catering standards and company policy.
• Oversee food cost management, waste reduction, stock control, and supplier product usage.
• Support mobilisation of new contracts, menu rollouts, and special projects.
• Build effective relationships with military clients, catering managers, site leads and senior officers.
• Support and deliver VIP visits, ceremonial functions, and high‑profile dining events.
• Represent the culinary team at meetings, tastings, and reviews.
• Lead Events & Function Support
• Plan and oversee delivery of bespoke dining events, themed menus, and regimental dinners.
• Work closely with site teams to ensure seamless delivery of formal and informal catering functions.

What We’re Looking For

• Experienced Head Chef, Development Chef, or similar multi‑site culinary role.
• Strong knowledge of large‑scale catering, ideally in Defence or similar environments.
• Excellent culinary skills with a passion for quality and innovation.
• Confident trainer, communicator, and motivator of diverse teams.
• Strong understanding of food safety, allergens, and compliance (HACCP essential).
• Flexibility to travel across the region and support multiple sites.
• Full UK driving licence.

What’s In It for You

• Employee perks (GP access, discounts, EAP), pension and life assurance.
• Generous holiday allowance with option to buy more.
• Access to training, qualifications, and clear career progression routes.
• Be part of a Forces Friendly, Disability Confident organisation with strong values.

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you’re passionate about food, leadership, and delivering excellence across military catering, we’d love to hear from you.

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