Director of Culinary Innovation and Operations

Join Us as Director of Culinary Innovation & Operations

Are you a strategic culinary leader with a bold vision, a passion for innovation, and a track record of operational excellence? This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of a dynamic, fast-growing food program. As a site-based Director of Culinary Innovation & Operations, you'll lead a talented and expanding kitchen team, serving a community that has nearly doubled in size since 2021 - with more growth on the horizon.

In this role, you'll drive the evolution of our culinary offerings, play a key role in designing kitchen infrastructure for our planned future move, and guide the team through ongoing change in a collaborative, high-energy environment. We’re looking for a creative, commercially astute leader who thrives at both the strategic and operational levels from big-picture planning to the heat of service.

Location: Central London

Rate of pay: £65,000 - £75,000 per annum depending on experience

Working pattern: Monday - Friday with shifts usually from 6.30/7am to 3/3.30pm

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Culinary Leadership

• Drive innovation and ongoing improvement of the food offer in line with evolving needs and expectations.
• Introduce and champion new concepts, seasonal updates, and customer-led enhancements
• Translate long-term culinary vision into scalable, practical solutions.

Kitchen Planning & Infrastructure

• Serve as a critical stakeholder in the design and planning of the future new kitchen facility.
• Lead on flow, logistics, equipment decisions, and capacity planning.
• Provide future-facing insight to ensure the space supports evolving culinary needs.

Team Growth & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 20+ staff, scaling effectively as demand grows.
• Promote a supportive, high-performance culture rooted in collaboration and ownership.
• Manage recruitment, onboarding, training, and performance reviews.

Operational & Financial Oversight

• Oversee kitchen ordering, cost control, inventory, and supplier management.
• Ensure compliance with all health, safety, and hygiene standards.
• Own and maintain food safety systems, audits, and recordkeeping.

Digital & Administrative Excellence

• Demonstrate strong proficiency in Excel, including the ability to build and manage cost models, forecasts, inventory tracking, labour planning, and reporting dashboards.
• Utilise digital systems confidently — including ordering platforms, compliance tools, time management software, and audit logs — to streamline kitchen operations and uphold accountability.
• Maintain exceptional attention to detail in recordkeeping, documentation, and compliance tracking, ensuring nothing is overlooked in a high-paced environment.
• Confidently interpret data to make informed operational decisions, and communicate insights clearly to stakeholders.
• Take ownership of digital accuracy, with the same level of discipline and consistency expected in food safety and kitchen execution.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience leading large teams or multi-site operations (café, restaurant, hotel, or contract catering).
• Background in mobilising new kitchens or hospitality spaces.
• Deep culinary knowledge with a flair for innovation and creativity.
• Calm under pressure and comfortable making quick, effective decisions.
• Confident with digital tools (Excel, compliance systems, operational software).
• Strong interpersonal skills and a natural collaborator.

Why This Role is Unique?

• You’ll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of food at this site.
• Be part of a highly collaborative, thoughtful team where ideas are heard and change is embraced.
• Lead in a workplace where growth, innovation, and vision are not buzzwords -they’re daily practice.

What's in it for you?

Working with Vacherin has its perks! People are at the heart of everything we do, so we've developed a range of benefits to keep you happy.

• Personal Development and Training opportunities
• Life assurance scheme
• Pension scheme
• Holiday allowance
• Private medical eligibility
• Eye care
• A great wellbeing strategy - including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, salary finance
• Family friendly support
• Regular social events and communication with our leaders
• A holiday purchase scheme
• Volunteering days
• Professional subscriptions
• Recognition schemes and people awards
• Long service awards
• Access to some great high street discount vouchers

Vacherin officially formed part of CH&CO Catering Group Ltd in 2021.

Partnerships, Innovation, Integrity, Quality, Fun