Area Chef Manager - Essex

Our client is a market leading contract catering company specialising in school food. By combining their understanding of the education sector and their knowledge of what’s on trend in the food world, they encourage creativity and excitement in their kitchens, allowing the teams to do what they do best and provide fantastic food experiences for the children.

The Role:

We’re seeking an ambitious Area Chef Manager, ready to take full operational and financial responsibility for the catering facility of the schools within your region! This role goes beyond the kitchen - it requires a visionary leader with the flair and originality to consistently deliver the highest quality food and service, elevating the dining experience and establishing this as one of the best school catering offers in the region!

Your responsibilities will include:

• Financial Control: Managing and improving all controllable costs, including stock, food and labour.
• Team Leadership: Lead, coach, train and inspire your kitchen team to deliver excellence every day.
• Culinary Innovation: Oversee menu development and drive sales through exciting monthly promotions and added-value events.
• Quality Assurance: Guarantee all standards, systems and essential legislation are met through regular audits and proactive management.

About you:

We’re looking for a passionate leader who is ready to drive excellence and profitability. If you’re hungry for a role where you can fully own the operation, you’ll need: 

• A strong understanding of Gross Profit (GP) management and the strategic know-how to smash sales targets.
• You have fantastic craft skills with a genuine commitment to using fresh ingredients to deliver exceptional quality food.
• Motivational Leader: Proven experience in line management, you know how to coach, motivate, and inspire to develop a high-performing team.
• Excellent knowledge of health and safety practices.
• A full UK driving licence 

Great Work-Life Balance:

• You’ll work Monday to Friday during school term time - that means no late nights, no weekends and no working at Christmas!
• 37.5 hours per week
• 40 weeks per year - what will you do with all that time off?
• £30,000 - £32,000 per annum

Why join?You’ll also benefit from:

• Working for a fast growing, ambitious company. There is no ceiling here in terms of where you can take your career
• A dedicated L&D team to support you in developing your skills including apprenticeships and training courses that are available for everyone.

Please note, we do expect all staff to share their commitment of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children/young people and an enhanced DBS disclosure will be sought by the company.

Contact us about this vacancy
Kat Kantorova
07548 963 089
kat.kantorova@pineapple-recruitment.co.uk

Pineapple Recruitment are recruiting for this role on behalf of our client and are acting as a Recruitment Agency.