CPU Head Chef
We're looking for a well organised Chef who is happy to work solo at our small Central Production Unit!
We usually respond within a week
CPU Chef
💰 up to £40,000 + Bonus + Share Options
📆 Mainly Monday - Friday Role (08:00 - 17:00)
🚊 Vauxhall & Victoria, London
WHO ARE WE?
#14 - Fastest Growing UK Tech Company (Sunday Times)
#31 - Fastest Growing UK Company (Sunday Times)
#77 - Fastest Growing Europe Company (Sifted)
Sessions is building the operating model for the future of restaurants, giving consumers instant access to the brands they love, wherever they live.
The Sessions distribution engine runs through 400+ delivery kitchens and 16 high street restaurants across the UK.
Founded in 2020 and led by ex-Deliveroo MD Dan Warne, Sessions has grown 7x in three years. Our platform has processed over 5 million orders and reaches 60% of the UK population. Our team brings experience from Deliveroo, Amazon, BrewDog, and Gousto.
We scale brands at a pace that redefines what's possible in food. Examples include Miko's Gyros, which went from launch to 100+ live sites in under two months and SoBe Burger, which is live in over 200 delivery locations and has opened 15 physical high street stores.
🏃♀️ We are Agile - Thrive in fast-pace. We sprint, adapt, and learn.
🌍 We are Ambitious - Contribute to something big. Watch your career grow bigger.
🤪 We are Fun - High performance, high fives. Join a team you'll love.
🤖We are Data-Driven - Turn insights into action. We lead with evidence.
💡We have Initiative - Anticipate problems. Drive the solution.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
The Central Production Unit (CPU) Chef is responsible for all kitchen processes, procedures, and the day-to-day execution of operations at our CPU, based at Mission Kitchen in Vauxhall. Working independently, you'll take ownership of preparing high-quality mise en place and base products to be delivered to our sites, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and exceptional standards.
You’ll work closely with our Culinary Development, ‘New Brands’, and Studio teams, and maintain strong daily communication with our Franchisee partners to ensure alignment and smooth rollout.
The initial focus will be on supporting our ‘Ivan Ramen’ brand, playing a critical role in reducing in-service prep time on-site while maintaining premium quality. Over time, we may decide to expand and include other brands in the CPU.
You’ll be involved in every aspect of making this unit a success—from ongoing operations to delivering a best-in-class central kitchen on time and to spec.
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
Elevate and improve SOPs for all kitchen processes, from ingredient receiving to final product dispatch
Stock Count+ P&L Reporting Implement rigorous stock-take procedures and comprehensive P&L reporting to optimise inventory turnover and ensure financial transparency
Plan, prepare, and execute production to the highest quality standards, ensuring full recipe compliance
Manage daily kitchen operations independently, including prep schedules, equipment use, and workflow optimisation
Maintain strict food safety and hygiene standards, according to HACCP documentation
Coordinate production and delivery schedules to meet the needs of all franchise sites and avoid service delays
Conduct quality control checks on all outputs before distribution to ensure premium brand standards are met
Collaborate with Culinary Development, Validation, and Studio teams to test, refine, and roll out recipes and processes
Communicate regularly with franchise partners to gather feedback, adjust production volumes, and resolve operational issues quickly
Oversee ingredient sourcing and stock control, including order placement, supplier liaison, and waste reduction
Train and guide additional kitchen staff as the CPU operation grows, ensuring consistent skills and procedures
Monitor and maintain kitchen equipment, coordinating maintenance or repairs to minimise downtime
Track and report on production KPIs (yields, waste, prep time, delivery accuracy) for continuous improvement
REQUIREMENTS:
3+ years in a professional kitchen environment
Highly organised individual with strong administrative skills
Previous experience in a central production unit (CPU), commissary kitchen, or high-volume prep environment (preferred)
Track record of implementing and refining kitchen processes to improve efficiency and consistency
Experience collaborating with culinary development or R&D teams to test and roll out new menu items is preferred
Proven ability to manage kitchen operations independently, from ordering to dispatch
Charismatic and energetic with a passion for food
Expert level of English language
Right to work in the UK
BENEFITS & PERKS
💷Financial
Bonus Scheme - Paid out every 6 Months
Share Options - Receive an amount of share options for Sessions Market Ltd.
Pay day on demand - Access to pay whenever needed
Expense card - Company Card
Finance Platform - Access to 'Mintago', Financial Wellbeing Platform
🌴Social, Mental & Physical Wellbeing:
Hybrid Working - up to 2 days working remotely per week
Holidays - 25 days + bank holidays + Birthday Off
Healthcare - Healthcare Cash Plan scheme
Employee Assistance Programme - Support for mental health and legal services
Socials - Monthly socials
Dog Friendly - We love our fluffy pals, they're welcome in the office!
Wear what you like - No suits and ties please, that's so 18th century....
💻Technology Perks:
Laptop - Apple Mac
Phone - Apple iPhone and company sim provided
📈 Progression & Development:
High Growth Start Up- This is a great chance to be part of a growing company with plenty of progression opportunities, responsibility from day 1
Management & Leadership Programme - Sessions runs a Management & Leadership Programme
Be Inspired - Learn from a team that's scaled some of the UK's biggest consumer companies
Membership & Qualifications - Sessions have helped support a number of our employees by providing funds for work-based qualifications and memberships
Sessions are a living wage and equal opportunity employer.
all applicants are reviewed 'anonymously' where only work experience and education will be available for the hiring manager to view - all applicants will be considered for employment without attention to ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, family or parental status, national origin, veteran, neurodiversity status or disability status.
#LI-KD1
- Department
- Studio
- Locations
- Mission Kitchen, Vauxhall
- Yearly salary
- £36,000 - £40,000
- Employment type
- Full-time
Our Values
-
We are AGILE 🏃♀️
Thrive in fast-pace. We sprint, adapt, and learn.
-
We are AMBITIOUS 🌍
Contribute to something big. Watch your career grow bigger.
-
We are FUN 🤪
High performance, high fives. Join a team you'll love.
-
We are DATA-DRIVEN 🤖
Turn insights into action. We lead with evidence.
-
We have INITIATIVE 💡
Anticipate problems. Drive the solution.
Our Employee Promise
At Sessions we are building the operating model for the future of restaurants, giving consumers instant access to the brands they love, wherever they live. Join us and build iconic brands.
About Sessions
Sessions exists to help founder-led food brands grow. Led by ex-Deliveroo MD Dan Warne and built by a team with experience scaling brands at Deliveroo, Amazon, BrewDog and Gousto. Sessions delivers the technology, data and expertise to turn loved food brands into national franchises.
Already working at Sessions?
Let’s recruit together and find your next colleague.