Sous Chef

Sous Chef - Brompton Barracks, Medway

40 hours per week | 5 days out of 7

£34400 per annum

We’re recruiting an experienced and confident Sous Chef to join our large‑scale catering operation at Medway. This is a high‑profile role within a fast‑paced Defence environment, ideal for a chef with a hotel or events background who thrives on volume, variety, and leading teams.

You’ll be working primarily in the Main Mess , with opportunities to support and cover across the wider operation when required.

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The Role

As Sous Chef, you’ll play a key leadership role within the kitchen, supporting the Head Chef and ensuring smooth day‑to‑day operations across a large, multi‑kitchen site.

You’ll be hands‑on, highly organised, and confident managing people, standards, and service at scale.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee all kitchen operations in the absence of the Head Chef
• Lead from the front, ensuring high‑quality food preparation and presentation across all kitchens
• Maintain and enforce food safety, hygiene, and Health & Safety standards
• Support service delivery for both main mess catering and functions
• Act as a positive role model, keeping kitchens organised, clean, and audit‑ready
• Support recruitment activities including interviews, trials, and onboarding
• Communicate regularly with the Head Chef regarding stock levels, ordering, and operational needs
• Take a proactive, hands‑on approach to team leadership and service delivery

✅ About You

This role would suit a Sous Chef who:

• Has experience in a hotel, large‑scale, or function‑led environment
• Is comfortable managing volume, multiple kitchens, and large teams
• Enjoys being hands‑on and visible in the kitchen
• Communicates confidently and works well as part of a senior kitchen team
• Is organised, reliable, and adaptable in a structured environment
• Is physically able to manage manual handling tasks such as stock and equipment
• Is confident using Microsoft Office and Outlook

We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
• Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
• Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
• Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
• Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
• You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families

About Us

Part of Compass Group UK&I, ESS is the Defence, Government, and Energy services sector of Compass Group UK & Ireland. We support 250+ UK military establishments, high profile police, secure environments and government sites, along with a range of onshore and offshore facilities including platforms, drilling rigs, floatels and offices for the energy sector. We know that a friendly face makes all the difference, so we look for people who are passionate about delivering excellent customer service, at all levels, to join our teams.