Executive Head Chef- The Vox Nec – Birmingham

Job Description

Executive Head Chef- The Vox Nec – Birmingham

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Executive Chef – The Vox, NEC Group Conventions, Birmingham | Full-Time / Permanent

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Competitive salary + excellent benefits including healthcare, wellbeing support, 23 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, life assurance, meals on duty, and more.

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We're looking for…

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We're looking for an exceptional Executive Chef to lead the culinary operation at The Vox, part of NEC Group Conventions. This is a fantastic opportunity for a senior culinary leader to take ownership of a high-profile events operation, leading a talented kitchen team and delivering exceptional food experiences across conferences, meetings, functions and events.

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You'll combine culinary creativity with strong commercial and operational thinking, ensuring consistently high standards while managing costs, developing your team and delivering food that makes a real impact on the guest experience.

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We are Levy

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We are a visionary venue partner. We design and deliver bespoke guest experiences that prioritise people and the planet.

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Trusted by some of the world's most iconic stadiums, entertainment venues, and major events – from Wimbledon and Twickenham to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Edgbaston, the SEC and Excel London – we bring experiences to life with passion and precision.

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Our mission is to succeed the right way. From pioneering tech and seamless operations to show-stopping menus and exceptional service, we use insight and innovation to understand guests, improve the customer journey, reduce environmental impact, and support local communities.

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We are a passionate, diverse team of venue specialists dedicated to making the planet better for future generations.

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Executive Chef – The Role

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As Executive Chef, you'll take overall responsibility for the culinary operation at The Vox, ensuring exceptional food, efficient kitchen operations and a strong team culture.

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You'll:

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• Lead and oversee the culinary operation across conferences, meetings, functions and events at The Vox.

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• Oversee and participate in the preparation and cooking of food, ensuring consistently high standards of quality, taste and presentation.

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• Plan and execute catering for events, ensuring food and service meet the expectations of guests, clients and wider stakeholders.

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• Lead, mentor and develop the kitchen team, creating a positive, cohesive and productive working environment.

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• Provide training and support to chefs and kitchen assistants, including culinary techniques relevant to large-scale event catering.

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• Manage food costs and the kitchen budget, ensuring commercial targets are achieved without compromising quality.

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• Oversee purchasing and sourcing, ensuring ingredients are obtained economically and to the required quality standards.

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• Maintain accurate records of expenditure, stock and inventory.

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• Oversee ordering, storage and stock management, minimising waste and maximising efficiency.

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• Maintain consistently high standards of food quality and presentation through effective quality control.

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• Ensure full compliance with food safety, health and safety, hygiene and dietary requirements.

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• Conduct regular checks and audits to maintain high standards across the kitchen operation.

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• Work closely with the Venue Sales and Event Management teams to understand requirements and deliver outstanding culinary experiences.

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• Continuously look for opportunities to improve menus, processes and the overall guest experience.

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• Stay up to date with culinary trends, techniques and innovation, bringing fresh ideas and creativity to the operation.

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• Champion sustainability, responsible sourcing and the Levy approach to food and hospitality.

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What we're looking for

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We're looking for an experienced senior culinary leader who combines a genuine passion for food with strong commercial, operational and people leadership skills.

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You'll ideally have:

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• Relevant professional culinary qualifications or equivalent experience.

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• Proven experience as an Executive Chef or in a comparable senior culinary leadership role.

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• Strong experience across menu planning, food preparation and kitchen management.

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• Experience leading, mentoring and developing a diverse kitchen team.

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• Strong commercial awareness with experience managing food costs, budgets and purchasing.

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• Excellent knowledge of food safety, hygiene and compliance requirements.

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• Experience delivering high-quality food at scale, ideally within events, conferences, hospitality or a similar environment.

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• A creative approach to menu development, with the ability to cater for a wide range of tastes and dietary requirements.

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• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with Sales, Events and wider venue teams.

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• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

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• A flexible and adaptable approach, with the ability to work evenings and weekends as required.

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• A genuine passion for culinary excellence and delivering memorable food experiences.

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What you'll get in return

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• Competitive salary with bonus and full company benefits

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• 23 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, your birthday off, and a holiday purchase scheme

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• Healthcare & wellbeing: Aviva Digicare, Medicash (dental, optical, therapy treatments)

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• Mental health support: 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme

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• Family benefits: Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave. 2 days' additional leave after returning from maternity leave, day off for your baby's first birthday, enhanced family leave

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• Perks & discounts: Shopping, entertainment, and travel discounts, 20% off Nuffield Health and 10% off PureGym memberships

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• Financial wellbeing: Pension scheme, Life Assurance, preferred rates on salary finance products

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• Development opportunities: Professional subscriptions, ongoing training and structured career pathways

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• Meals on duty included

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• Vodafone discounts

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• Exclusive Benefits & Wellbeing site (Perks at Work)

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• Entertainment discounts – up to 55% off cinema tickets

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• Travel discounts with holiday companies such as TUI and Expedia

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• Shopping discounts – save up to 15% at high street and online stores through Shopping Cards

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Why Join Us?

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The Vox is part of NEC Group Conventions, one of the UK's leading destinations for conferences, meetings and events. Located within the NEC campus, The Vox provides a high-quality setting for everything from large-scale conferences and exhibitions to meetings, dinners and special events.

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As part of Levy, you'll join a business that partners with some of the world's most iconic venues and events, with a genuine passion for great food, exceptional service and unforgettable guest experiences.

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We are culinary champions – it's what we do and what we're passionate about. Great food, responsibly sourced ingredients and exceptional service sit at the heart of everything we deliver.

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We're also committed to doing the right thing for our people and the planet, with sustainability, wellbeing, diversity and inclusion at the heart of our approach.

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Levy UK & Ireland is part of Compass Group, the world's largest catering company, and a vibrant leader in hospitality.

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We believe in celebrating individuality and building inclusive teams where everyone feels they belong. Our diverse team fuels creativity, innovation, and excellence.

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We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome candidates from all backgrounds to join us in creating a supportive, empowering workplace where everyone can thrive.

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Together, we create unforgettable experiences – and shape the future of hospitality.

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