Head Chef – Hospitality and Retail

Retail Head Chef – Birmingham Retail Head Chef – NEC Birmingham | Full-Time / Permanent 35,000 + excellent benefits including healthcare, wellbeing support, 23 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, life assurance, meals on duty, and more. We’re looking for a passionate Head Chef to join the innovative team at NEC Birmingham – the UK’s largest event space! As Head Chef you will lead retail culinary operations; ensuring kitchens runs safely and efficiently, leading a passionate kitchen team, and enabling us to exceed guest expectations for world-class events, conferences, and exhibitions. If you have the culinary and leadership skills to manage a high-volume kitchen in a dynamic retail environment, we want to hear from you! We are a leading global hospitality partner, designing and delivering unforgettable guest moments that prioritise people and the planet. Trusted by some of the world’s most iconic stadiums, entertainment venues, and major events – including Wimbledon, Twickenham, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Edgbaston, the SEC and ExCeL London – we bring experiences to life with passion and precision. From pioneering tech and seamless operations to show-stopping menus and exceptional service, we use insight and innovation to understand guests, improve the customer journey, reduce environmental impact, and support local communities. Retail Head Chef – The role Leading on building efficient and commercially viable labour plans and food and beverage orders for large-scale events using key sales insights Managing budgets, labour, and stock control to ensure high-quality and cost-effective menu solutions Supporting with continued business improvements and profitability Leading on delivering all health & safety and food safety standards Championing the Levy brand standards and delivering an outstanding guest experience Monitoring guest feedback and implementing improvements to enhance overall service level Acting as a role model for the team, supporting training and development. Acting as duty manager, allocating kitchen duties and responsibilities to all culinary team members and providing on shift support to colleagues. Supporting with relevant event and kitchen roles in the business / venues including Support Chef, FPA or Kitchen Assistant. Experience managing a high-volume kitchen in a retail environment Previous experience adhering to safety policies and procedures Has an awareness of commercial drivers Passion for guest experience and service excellence Competitive salary and full company benefits~23 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, your birthday off, and a holiday purchase scheme~ Aviva Digicare, Medicash (dental, optical, therapy treatments)~ Mental health support: 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme~ 2 days’ additional leave after returning from maternity leave, day off for your baby’s first birthday, enhanced family leave~ Perks & discounts: Shopping, entertainment, and travel discounts, 20% off Nuffield Health and 10% off Pure Gym memberships~ Financial wellbeing: Pension scheme, Life Assurance, preferred rates on salary finance products~ Development opportunities: Professional subscriptions, ongoing training and structured career pathways~ Levy UK & Ireland is part of Compass Group, the world’s largest catering company, and a vibrant leader in hospitality. We believe in celebrating individuality and building inclusive teams where everyone feels they belong. Together, we create unforgettable experiences – and shape the future of hospitality….