Head Chef

 

Grade UE07: £41,064 to £48,822 per annum 

CSG / Accommodation, Catering and Events / Catering 

Full-time: 35 hours per week

Open-ended (permanent)

 

The Opportunity:

Together we can do great things. Be part of something bigger.

The University isn’t just any employer. We are part of a local community and a contributor to global thinking, progress and research. In Edinburgh, you are in one of the world’s most attractive cities with active arts and social sectors, while working in a University that has made significant contributions to society, medicine, physics and teaching for over four centuries. Our people have helped create the modern world and are working on more ground-breaking technologies and practices.

From student accommodation to café’s restaurants and hotels, we are a 24/7 organisation that embraces the traditional and the modern in equal measure. From historical buildings to state of the art technical and research hubs our mission is to ‘enrich student learning and growth as well as impact our local communities’ and our values drive everything we do.

The role will be based at our largest catering unit; The John McIntyre Conference Centre (JMCC) is located within Pollock Halls and will report to the Head of Catering Operations -Kitchens. The John McIntyre Conference Centre is a 500+-seater buffet style restaurant that provides approximately 28,000 meals per week during our student period and breakfast, lunch and dinner to our commercial guests from June to September each year.

As Head Chef, you will lead the operational service delivery of food to our students and commercial guests throughout the year.

This post is full-time (35 hours per week) and fully based on campus.

 

At ACE our mission is to ‘enrich student learning and growth as well and impact our local communities.’ Our values drive everything we do, therefore ask yourself:

 

Are you PASSIONATE about making a difference?

Do you like to COLLABORATE and achieve things as a team?

Is INCLUSION at the forefront of all you do?

Do you thrive when given OWNERSHIP?

Are you inspired by INNOVATION and excited to bring new ideas to life?

 

A career with us has a range of other benefits that can be tailored to your lifestyle: 

• Interesting work.
• Good salary / pay rates.
• Responsibility and autonomy.
• Excellent benefits and support.

 

View the full job description  

 

How to apply: 

- CV

- Cover letter

 

As a valued member of our team, you can expect: 

• A competitive salary. 
• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work. 
• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
• Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page and use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits. 

 

Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.

 

Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages.

The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. International applicants will therefore be unable to apply for and secure a Skilled Worker visa. They will only be able to take up this role if they can demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.   

 

Key dates to note

The closing date for applications is 19th March 2026.

Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm GMT. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone. 

Interviews will be held within 2 weeks after closing date.

As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.