Chef Manager - Shaftesbury

Job Title: Chef Manager
Location: Shaftesbury, Wiltshire
Hourly Rate: £19.50 per hour
Working Pattern: Daytime Hours - 35 hours per week, 38 weeks per year 

The Opportunity

Our client is a dedicated contract caterer that views food as energy, education, and community. They prioritise creative, highly nutritious dishes made with high-quality, fresh ingredients. They are seeking an exceptional, hands-on Chef Manager to lead their kitchen operation at a school site. This role offers the unique benefit of fantastic working hours inherent to the school kitchen environment. The ideal candidate thrives on developing people, achieving high standards, and driving culinary innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Culinary & Service Leadership: Lead all kitchen operations, ensuring the preparation of high-quality, nutritious meals and the delivery of a fantastic customer service experience.

• Menu Innovation: Take ownership of menu development, introducing creative flair and driving continuous culinary evolution.

• Compliance & Standards: Act as the standard-bearer for all operations, ensuring exceptional, high-level compliance in Food Safety, Hygiene, and H&S.

• Team Development: Mentor and support staff growth, fostering a progressive and high-performing culture where learning is central.

• Financial Management: Manage all controllable costs (stock, food, labour) to maximise profitability and ensure efficient resource allocation.

• Performance Driver: Boost overall site performance and engagement through effective monthly promotions and events.

What Our Client Is Looking For

• Experience: Proven experience leading and inspiring teams within fast-paced food service environments, with a track record of driving KPIs and achieving operational excellence.

• Culinary Passion: A strong passion for and experience in food preparation, particularly using fresh ingredients and developing appealing, nutritious menus.

• Compliance Knowledge: Comprehensive, up-to-date knowledge of essential compliance matters, including Health & Safety, Food Safety, and Hygiene regulations.

• Business Acumen: Ability to understand, analyse, and effectively utilise operational reports (e.g., labour cost, waste reports, profitability) to strategically optimise the business.

Why Apply?

• Schedule: Excellent work-life balance with 35 hours per week, working 38 weeks per year.

• Career Growth: Work for a fast-growing, ambitious company with no ceiling in terms of where you can take your career; they actively look to promote talent from within.

• Development: Access to a dedicated Learning & Development team to support skills growth, including apprenticeships and training courses.

• Culture: Join a supportive team committed to collaboration and the pursuit of culinary excellence.

Note: Our client is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Pineapple Recruitment is acting as a recruitment agency on behalf of our client for this position.