Retail Head Chef | AELTC Wimbledon

London Source: WhatJobs

£60,000–£75,000

About the Role

The Retail Head Chef is responsible for leading the retail culinary operation for The Championships at the All-England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), delivering innovative and sustainable high-volume catering. The role sits within Wimbledon Food & Drink, the official caterer at AELTC, and the wider Levy culinary team. It involves shaping creative menus, driving culinary innovation, and managing logistics to bring outstanding food experiences to life on a global stage. The position also carries the ambition to raise the bar on food quality, creativity, and guest experience in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the culinary vision for The Championships' Retail operation, creating innovative dishes and exciting new concepts.
Own the full culinary journey from menu development and tastings through mobilisation, live delivery and post-event review.
Turn ideas into action, ensuring tasting feedback is captured, implemented and reflected in final operational specifications.
Set the culinary standard, creating detailed recipes, flavour profiles, dish descriptions and presentation guidelines.
Champion quality and sustainability, working with purchasing teams to secure seasonal, locally sourced and sustainable products.
Use data to drive decisions, optimising menu sales mix, stock levels and waste across retail outlets.
Master production and logistics, developing efficient pre-production and night-production schedules that balance time, storage and cost.
Ensure operational readiness, making sure every kitchen has the equipment, resources and support needed to deliver exceptional menus.
Raise the bar on quality, benchmarking food trends and guest feedback while carrying out daily dish and service checks throughout The Championships.
Lead from the front, supporting area chefs and managers on the ground while driving culinary projects and consistently exceptional standards.

Required Experience & Qualifications

Experience of high-volume event, premium hospitality, multi-outlet or large-scale catering operations
Strong influencing, coaching and people development skills
Highly motivated self-starter
Independent person who demonstrates initiative
A genuine excitement for food, someone who has their finger on the pulse of current trends
Proactive, positive individual able to quickly build partnership relationships with key stakeholders and work as a team player
Ability to drive through change
Has a commercial approach and inquisitive nature
Ability to influence and operate at all levels
Able to problem solve and make balanced business decision