Vacancies

Chef Manager - Lightwater

Job Description

Chef Manager

Salary: £16.00 per hour
Contracted Hours: 30 hours per week (Term Time Only — 30 weeks per year)
Location: Lightwater, Surrey
Working Pattern: Monday to Friday (No evenings, no weekends, and school holidays off!)
Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent

The Opportunity

Pineapple Recruitment is partnering with a market-leading UK education contract caterer to recruit a talented and ambitious Chef Manager to take full operational and financial ownership of a school catering facility in Lightwater.

This role offers an exceptional work-life balance across a manageable 30-hour working week and 30 weeks per year. You will take complete charge of a school kitchen—combining strong craft skills and fresh-food menu design with complete commercial accountability for gross profit, stock control, and team management.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Control: Manage and optimise all controllable costs, including GP management, stock control, food waste, and labour budgets.
Team Leadership: Lead, coach, train, and inspire your kitchen team to maintain high performance and exceptional food service standards.
Culinary Innovation: Oversee fresh food menu development and drive uptake through monthly themed promotions and added-value school events.
Quality Assurance: Guarantee strict adherence to food safety legislation, HACCP guidelines, allergen protocols (Natasha's Law), and internal audit standards.

Skills & Experience Required

Financial & Commercial Acumen: Proven experience managing Gross Profit (GP) margins, food costs, and inventory control to hit sales targets.
Culinary Craft Skills: Strong hands-on culinary background with a genuine commitment to using fresh ingredients to deliver exceptional quality meals.
Leadership Track Record: Proven experience in line management—coaching, motivating, and inspiring a high-performing team within a commercial or educational kitchen.
Compliance Knowledge: Thorough understanding of health & safety practices and food hygiene regulations (OND/HND qualifications are a bonus, but practical experience is key).
Safeguarding: Must share a commitment to safeguarding and be willing to undergo an Enhanced DBS check.

What’s On Offer

Unbeatable Work-Life Balance: Monday to Friday working hours during school term time only (30 weeks/year)—enjoy all weekends, bank holidays, and school holidays off!
Competitive Pay: £16.00 per hour on a guaranteed 30-hour term-time contract.
Career Growth: Access to dedicated Learning & Development pathways, apprenticeship programmes, and structured career progression with no ceiling.