Junior Executive Chef

We’re looking for an exceptional Junior Executive Chef to lead, develop, and elevate kitchen teams across some of London’s most loved hospitality venues, including The Blues Kitchen, The Jazz Cafe, and The Old Queen’s Head.

This is a senior leadership role for a passionate, people first operator who thrives in high volume hospitality and genuinely loves being in kitchens, around teams, and in service. This is not an office based role - we’re looking for someone hands on, present, and visible in venues every week, coaching teams in real time and leading from the floor.

Working closely with our Executive Chef, the mission of this role is built around three core pillars:

• Standards — exceptional kitchen organisation, cleanliness, compliance, and audit performance
• Consistency — strong training, development, leadership, and people practices across every site
• Quality — delivering consistently outstanding food and guest experiences

Reporting into the Executive Chef, you’ll work closely with the CEOs, Head of Operations, Head of People, Head Chefs, and General Managers to build high performing kitchens, develop future leaders, and strengthen food operations across the group.

The Role

As Junior Executive Chef, you will lead the people, performance, culture, and operational standards of our kitchens across multiple venues. You’ll spend the majority of your time in venues - supporting services, coaching teams, auditing standards, and developing people directly.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Development

• Coach, mentor, and develop Head Chefs into confident, high performing leaders
• Build clear development pathways and succession plans across kitchen teams
• Lead regular 1-2-1s, performance reviews, and career conversations
• Support recruitment, onboarding, retention, and team engagement
• Foster positive, accountable kitchen cultures aligned with company values
• Lead by example in standards, behaviour, and leadership style

Standards & Operations

• Drive exceptional standards of cleanliness, organisation, and kitchen operations
• Conduct regular site visits, audits, and operational reviews
• Ensure consistency in food quality, presentation, and service execution
• Maintain strong food hygiene, HACCP, allergen, and health & safety standards
• Ensure kitchens are efficient, structured, and aligned with company expectations

Performance & Financials

• Support Head Chefs in understanding and owning kitchen financial performance
• Drive improvements in GP, labour efficiency, and cost control
• Review reporting and coach teams to improve operational performance
• Support effective stock control, ordering, and supplier management

Food & Quality

• Ensure food quality is consistently delivered at a high standard across all sites
• Support kitchens in executing menus efficiently and consistently

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience in a senior multi site chef or operational leadership role
• A hands on leader who genuinely enjoys being in kitchens and developing teams
• Strong coaching, mentoring, and people development capability
• Experience improving team performance, engagement, and retention
• Commercial understanding of kitchen financials and operational performance
• Calm, organised, and solutions focused under pressure
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Passion for hospitality, standards, consistency, and food quality

Why Join The Columbo Group?

• The opportunity to shape kitchen culture across some of London’s most exciting hospitality venues
• A genuine platform to develop people and build future culinary leaders
• Career progression within a fast-growing independent hospitality group
• A collaborative, creative, and people focused environment
• Staff discounts across The Columbo Group venues
• Competitive salary package
• Ongoing training and development opportunities