This is a high-impact role for someone with not only an exceptional palate, but also a proven strategic mindset to scale culinary experiences that wow our guests every time.

What you'll do- 

• Strategic Menu Innovation & UK Adaptation: Collaborate with the global culinary team to envision & develop new menu concepts. Lead the adaptation of these concepts, & generate UK-specific menus, leveraging local ingredients, suppliers, catering to the distinct preferences of the British market while aligning with our global culinary vision.
• Leadership & Culture Building: Provide inspirational & hands-on leadership to UK kitchen teams, establishing & upholding the highest food standards. Cultivate a positive, collaborative, & high-performing kitchen culture, fostering an environment where creativity thrives, & staff are motivated, trained, & committed to excellence.
• Operational Excellence & Standards: Oversee & optimize all aspects of UK kitchen operations, ensuring meticulous adherence to standardized recipes, advanced culinary techniques, & stringent food safety & hygiene protocols.
• Health & Safety Oversight: Ensure full compliance with UK food safety legislation, allergen regulations, & HACCP protocols across all venues. This includes the management of regular internal audits & Environmental Health Officer (EHO) inspections to consistently maintain or exceed required standards.
• Talent Development: Design & implement comprehensive training programs & workshops for UK culinary staff. Your focus will be on enhancing their skills, promoting professional growth, fostering teamwork, & ensuring consistency in food quality & presentation across all locations.
• Pipeline & Brand Enhancement: Forge strategic partnerships with local UK culinary schools & educational institutions to enhance the brand's visibility within the culinary community & create a robust pipeline of early talent.
• Quality Assurance: Conduct regular, strategic audits & inspections to rigorously monitor food quality, portion control, & compliance with all operational & hygiene standards.  
• Cost Management: Proactively identify challenges & implement effective, cost-efficient solutions that streamline processes, enhance efficiency, & ensure outstanding customer satisfaction without compromising quality. Work closely with the procurement team to identify new vendors & potential partnerships.
• Market Trend Integration: Remain at the forefront of UK & international culinary trends, techniques, & best practices. You will champion the incorporation of new ideas, sustainable sourcing, & innovative approaches to continually enhance & differentiate our culinary offerings in the UK market.
• Project & Transition Oversight: Coordinate & strategically manage significant culinary projects, including new kitchen openings, renovations, or large-scale special events, ensuring seamless execution & minimal disruption to ongoing operations.

A bit about you. 

• Ten+ years of progressive culinary & kitchen leadership experience, ideally within high-volume, complex food service operations, including large-scale catering operations, with a significant portion in a strategic or directorial capacity.
• Demonstrable experience in international culinary collaboration, with a proven ability to adapt global concepts to local market tastes & sourcing.
• Extensive experience in menu development, culinary innovation, & quality assurance at a multi-unit or regional level.
• A strong understanding & passion for UK culinary traditions, ingredients, & dining trends.
• Comprehensive knowledge of food & catering trends, with an acute focus on premium quality, efficient production, meticulous food safety compliance (HACCP, UK regulations), robust food cost controls, & impeccable presentation.
• Proven track record of leading large, geographically dispersed culinary teams, with the ability to inspire & manage through influence & direct engagement.

Who We Are:

Convene is a global hospitality company that manages a growing portfolio of lifestyle brands focused on revolutionising the way people meet, work, & gather.  We create hospitality-driven experiences & uniquely designed destinations across its various brands with the singular mission of fostering human-to-human connection. The Convene portfolio comprises Convene, etc.venues by Convene, & Convene Signature, offering clients multiple products including event venues, meeting rooms, flexible office spaces, & building amenity centers.  With hospitality at its core, each brand & product offers on-site culinary, in-room A/V, production services, & dedicated hospitality staffing resources. As the largest single provider of dedicated meeting & event venues in the U.S. & UK, & with a growing footprint of flexible office space, the Convene portfolio has a network of nearly 40 locations across nine global cities.

Learn more at https://convene.com/. 

Were Here For You: 

Health & Wellness

• Private medical insurance
• Subsidised eye care
• Subsidised fitness membership
• Employee Assistance Program: well-being support & personal advice programme

Time Off & Work-Life Balance

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, & company sick pay
• Financial Support & Benefits
• Bonus scheme
• Interest-free loan for rail season tickets & further education
• Subsidised bicycle purchase through Cycle to Work scheme

Professional Development & Recognition

• Continuous professional & personal development support
• Employee recognition & reward programs to mark achievements & milestones

Community & Impact

• Opportunities to volunteer, donate, & participate in community give-back initiatives
• The opportunity to have a significant impact on your team & the business in the work that you do

Convene is committed to building an inclusive & diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer & welcome people from all backgrounds, experiences, abilities & perspectives. 

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