Chef Manager - Colchester

Location: Colchester CO4

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent (Term Time Only)

Salary: £25,000 – £26,000 per annum

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday, 39 weeks per year)

About Us

Our client is a market-leading contract caterer specialising in school food. We don't just serve meals, we create fantastic food experiences that fuel young minds! By blending deep knowledge of the education sector with the latest food trends, we encourage creativity and excitement in every kitchen.

Our commitment to quality care for both clients and children has fuelled rapid growth, and we are looking for passionate people like you to join our journey.

About the Role

We’re seeking an ambitious Chef Manager, ready to take full operational and financial responsibility for your school's catering facility! 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!

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Control: Manage and improve 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.
• Fantastic craft skills with a genuine commitment to using fresh ingredients to deliver exceptional quality food.
• 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.
• A qualification like OND/HND is a bonus, but your on-the-job experience is what we’re truly after.

Why Join the Family?

Great Work-Life Balance:

• 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 across 39 weeks per year, what will you do with all that time off?

Career Growth and Development:

• Join a fast-growing, ambitious company with no ceiling in terms of where you can take your career in catering.
• Benefit from a dedicated Learning & Development team offering apprenticeships and training courses to help you constantly develop your skills.

(Please note: All staff must share our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The company will seek an enhanced DBS disclosure.)

Pineapple Recruitment is acting as a Recruitment Agency on behalf of our client.