Head of Food Services

Salary: £55,000 – £57,500 per annum (depending on experience)
Contract: Permanent, 35 hours per week, 5 days over 7 (including weekends and bank holidays)
Location: West Dean, near Chichester, West Sussex

Set in the heart of the South Downs, West Dean is a truly unique place – an internationally recognised centre for arts education, surrounded by historic gardens, a creative community, and a 6,350-acre estate. Each year thousands of students, visitors and guests come here to learn, create, and be inspired by our remarkable setting.

Food and drink are central to the West Dean experience. From our College Dining Room and Gardens Restaurant to West Dean Stores, tea rooms, and our growing events programme, we are proud to serve wholesome, seasonal dishes, many made with produce grown on the estate.

We are seeking an inspiring and commercially focused Head of Food Services to lead our catering operations. This is an exciting opportunity to reshape West Dean’s food and beverage offer – making it memorable, sustainable, and financially successful.

You will oversee three outlets, a bar, and events catering, working closely with colleagues across the estate to deliver exceptional food experiences for students, staff, visitors, and event guests. This role combines strategic leadership with hands-on oversight, ensuring the highest standards of service, quality, and compliance.

• Develop and deliver a food and beverage strategy that grows income, profitability, and reputation.

• Champion the use of estate-grown and locally sourced produce, embedding sustainability and provenance at the heart of menus.

• Lead and inspire the Food Services team, fostering a culture of excellence, customer focus, and teamwork.

• Oversee day-to-day operations across outlets, events, and the Stewards Bar, ensuring high standards of food safety, service, and presentation.

• Drive growth in conferences and events catering, enhancing the overall customer experience while contributing to financial sustainability.

• Manage budgets, monitor KPIs, and ensure robust cost control.

We’re looking for someone who is proactive, creative, and commercially astute, with the vision and leadership to make West Dean’s catering distinctive and memorable. You will bring:

• Significant senior management experience in multi-outlet food and beverage operations.

• A strong track record of delivering income growth and service improvement.

• Excellent leadership skills with the ability to motivate and develop diverse teams.

• Knowledge of food safety, health & safety, allergen management, and licensing.

• A passion for provenance, sustainability, and delivering exceptional customer experiences.

Experience within a visitor attraction, heritage site, or education environment would be an advantage, but is not essential.

• 36 days holiday per year (including bank holidays)

• Generous contributory pension scheme (4%–7.5% matched)

• Employee Assistance Programme and Mental Health First Aiders

• Cycle to Work scheme

• Free entry to West Dean Gardens

• Complimentary staff access to events

• Free and discounted places on short courses

• Free use of college facilities (swimming pool, library, tennis courts)

• Discounts on retail, catering, and accommodation

• Free on-site parking

If you are ready to bring fresh ideas, commercial drive, and inspiring leadership to our food and beverage operations, we would love to hear from you.

Please click Apply here or see our Candidate Pack for more information.

West Dean College values diversity and is committed to being an inclusive and representative employer. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

• Please view the Head of Food Services Candidate Pack 10 2025 document (opens in a pop up)