ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Chef at our Bracknell head office, you will play a vital role in bringing our hospitality offer to life, producing food to the highest possible standards while maintaining a sharp eye on cost parameters and compliance.
This is a collaborative role within our Hospitality & Food Service team, where you will do much more than work your section. You will actively contribute to menu development, ensuring our food is nutritious, inspiring, and commercially sustainable. Beyond day-to-day food production, you will act as a key player in head office campus life, collaborating with the wider Facilities team to support smooth operations and maintain an immaculate, legally compliant kitchen environment. If you are a team-oriented chef who loves delivering exceptional service and thrives in an environment that prioritises professional growth, this is the perfect place to build your career. In addition to your contractual pay, any time worked between 22:00 - 06:00 will attract Night Premium at a rate of £4.25 per hour. This will also apply to existing Partners who have enrolled onto Enhanced Hours Premium arrangements.

Salary: £28,400 - £38,600

Contract Type: This role is a permanent contract.

Location: This position is based out of our Bracknell head office

Working pattern:  This role will usually be Mon-Fri 07:00 - 15:00, with 5 out  of 7 working days if the operation requires cover over weekends or evening shifts (11:30-20:00)

Key Responsibilities:

Act in accordance with the Partnership’s purpose and democratic principles, constructively participating in co-ownership, and demonstrating to customers and each other that it is a better way of doing business. Share your knowledge, experiences, ideas and opinion to improve the Partnership, speaking honestly and frequently.

Invest in your personal and professional development to achieve your potential, by doing more, doing better, or doing different. Continuously engage with and actively contribute to your Profession.

Take responsibility for actively engaging with change.
 

Customer / Financial/ Commercial

• Produce food in line with menu guidelines to the highest standards and quality within budgetary requirements.

• Take an active part in menu preparation and sharing in the collective development of the food offer to deliver menus with the right balance of nutrition, profitability and cost

• Responsible for ensuring all relevant kitchen sections meet all regulations including the highest standards of food safety and hygiene legislation as well as industry best practices

• Ensure the administration of Food preparation is accurately recorded to management information and food safety requirements.

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Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure full compliance with JLP Catering policies and legislation

• Ensure full compliance with Health and Safety Regulations

• Carry out due diligence tasks and keep accurate due diligence checks and records

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Supporting Head Office Life

• Play a supporting role in the development of holistic, coordinated support services across the campus seeking and giving advice with the Facilities team as required.

• Play a vital role in the recovery of the business in case of service failure or other situation providing assistance where required to recover the campus

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Benefits of the Role

• Full Chef Whites and Safety shoes included for the role

• Free meals whilst on duty

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Essential skills/experience you’ll need

• Good Basic Education - GCSEs - A Levels or Vocational equivalents

• Intermediate Food Hygiene Certificate. - Level 2

• Recognised Food Production Certificate. City & Guilds 706 1 & 2 or equivalent

• Operational experience in PDRs, canteens or hospitality

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Desirable skills/experience you may have 

• Working towards Advanced Food Hygiene Certificate - Level 3

Closing Date:

July 1, 2026

Pay:

£28,400.00 - £38,600.00 Annual

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hours of Work:

Mon-Fri 07:00 - 15:00, with 5 out 7 if the operation requires cover

Job Level:

Partnership Level 9

Where You'll Be Working:

Bracknell Campus, Doncastle Road, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 8YA

ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.  

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.   

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect. 

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective. 

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.  

Important points to note:  

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.

We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants.  

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.