Head of Culinary

Location: London
Division: Commercial F&B
Reports to: VP, Commercial F&B
Career Level: B1

Create Joy. Build Connections. Make Memories.
At Merlin Entertainments, our purpose is simple: to bring joy, create connections and make memories that last a lifetime. Our vision is to be the global leader in branded entertainment destinations and the greatest place to work and play.

We’re now seeking an exceptional Head of Culinary to shape the future of food across our global attractions, hotels and resorts.

About the Role

The Head of Culinary is a pivotal global leadership role, responsible for defining and delivering Merlin’s culinary strategy across multiple markets and brands including our iconic LEGOLAND® Resorts.

You’ll blend creative vision with commercial excellence, ensuring every dining experience is guest-centric, operationally strong, brand-aligned and commercially optimised.

This is a highly collaborative, hands-on role within a matrix environment, influencing stakeholders across Regions, Operations, Procurement, Finance, Marketing and key IP partners (including LEGO®).

You’ll be accountable for driving menu innovation, food quality, COGS, labour efficiency and EBITDA contribution across the global F&B portfolio.

What You’ll Be Doing

Menu Development & Innovation

• Lead the creation, testing and rollout of global menu strategies across attractions, hotels and resorts.
• Develop seasonal concepts, premium upsells and limited-time offers that drive spend and guest excitement.
• Co-create branded menu concepts with LEGO® and other IP partners.
• Define KPIs for menu profitability, guest satisfaction and waste reduction.
• Drive rapid deployment of new concepts, particularly across LEGOLAND® Resorts.
• Deliver measurable improvements in ATV, menu profitability and guest satisfaction.

Kitchen Operations, Quality & Standards

• Own global kitchen operational standards to ensure scalability, efficiency and food safety compliance.
• Define kitchen workflows, layouts and equipment requirements to maximise throughput.
• Implement quality and presentation scorecards globally, targeting continuous improvement.
• Lead kitchen audits and drive corrective action plans.
• Reduce food waste and uphold high audit scores across all regions.

Culinary Training & Cost Control

• Lead, inspire and develop culinary talent across global teams.
• Create and deliver training programmes to improve labour efficiency and consistency.
• Establish COGS and labour KPIs, ensuring proactive cost management.
• Partner with Procurement to optimise sourcing, sustainability and value delivery.

Commercial & Financial Delivery

• Drive revenue, margin growth and EBITDA performance across F&B operations.
• Analyse menu mix, pricing and performance to identify commercial opportunities.
• Improve average transaction value (ATV) and guest spend per head.
• Present clear business cases and performance updates to senior leadership.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Operate effectively within a matrix structure across regions and functional teams.
• Collaborate closely with IP teams (especially LEGO®) to ensure concepts align to brand and commercial expectations.
• Partner with Operations, Marketing, Digital, Project Development and Finance to ensure concepts are executable, profitable and scalable.
• Support kitchen design and infrastructure for new builds and refurbishments globally.

What You’ll Bring

• Proven leadership experience across multi-site or global culinary operations.
• Strong track record in menu innovation, commercial performance and operational excellence.
• Expertise managing COGS, labour, quality metrics and delivering financial outcomes.
• Experience thriving in a matrixed, cross-functional environment.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, with confidence to engage VP and executive-level stakeholders.
• Hands-on experience in concept creation and high-pace rollout, ideally in resorts or IP-led brands.
• Global exposure and ability to work across diverse markets.

• Culinary Expertise: Deep knowledge of food trends, kitchen operations and large-scale production.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Ability to inspire, coach and develop teams.
• Commercial Acumen: Strong financial insight with the ability to balance guest satisfaction and profitability.
• Operational Excellence: Track record of improving kitchen efficiency and maintaining safety and quality standards.
• Innovation & Creativity: Ability to design concepts that excite guests while delivering strong financial results.

Leadership Behaviours We Value

Soulfully Curious

You seek out new perspectives, ask questions with positive intent and stay open to new ideas.

Results Focused

You set clear goals, prioritise effectively, evaluate progress and take accountability for outcomes.

Extraordinary Teammate

You collaborate proactively, share knowledge, celebrate others and strengthen team culture across the organisation.

Develops People

You coach, nurture talent and create opportunities for others to grow.

Ready to Shape the Future of Food at Merlin?

If you're a visionary culinary leader with the commercial drive and creative passion to deliver world-class guest experiences, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now and help us create unforgettable memories through exceptional food.

We’re growing fast and alongside a fun and friendly environment, we offer a fabulous package and amazing prospects – ideal if you’re already fantastic and want to become even better (our magic can help here). Benefits include Pension, Life Assurance, discretionary company bonus, 33 days’ holiday including bank holidays, a Merlin Magic Pass which gives you and your friends and family free admission to all of our attractions worldwide, an Enjoy the Ride pass which entitles you and 5 loved ones unlimited entry into your regional attractions, 25% discount in our retail shops and restaurants and 40% discount on LEGO, plus lots more!