Chef Manager - Stafford

About Our Client

Our client is a well-established, independent Midlands-based school catering specialist dedicated to fresh, creative, and wholesome food. Known for their supportive, family-oriented culture, they combine rapid business growth with dedicated training and a genuine focus on employee well-being.

The Role: Chef Manager

We are seeking a proactive, commercial Chef Manager to take full operational and financial ownership of a vibrant school catering facility. This is a hands-on leadership role where you will set the culinary benchmark, lead front-of-house and back-of-house standards, and make every service an engaging experience for students and staff alike.

What’s on Offer

• Hourly Rate: £15.50 per hour
• Exceptional Work-Life Balance:
• Monday to Friday daytime hours (no evenings or late shifts)
• No weekend work
• 35 hours per week
• 39 weeks per year, aligned with school term times
• Career Development: Dedicated Learning & Development support, accredited apprenticeships, and internal progression pathways within an expanding business.
• Positive Culture: A collaborative, family-oriented kitchen atmosphere where hard work is recognized and rewarded.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational & Team Leadership: Direct, mentor, and inspire the kitchen team daily to deliver consistent, high-standard meal services while fostering a positive working culture.
• Culinary Standards & Innovation: Oversee the preparation and presentation of fresh, balanced, and appealing dishes; drive menu improvements and introduce creative meal concepts.
• Financial & Commercial Management: Manage unit profitability, cost of goods, stock, and labor budgets, ensuring tight cost controls and waste minimization.
• Commercial Growth: Increase student and staff uptake through dynamic monthly food themes, seasonal promotions, and added-value school events.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Act as the primary, professional face of the catering service on-site, maintaining positive daily relationships with school leadership, teaching staff, and students.
• Safety, Compliance & Quality: Maintain full compliance with food hygiene legislation, Health & Safety standards, and strict allergen protocols through regular audits and rigorous record-keeping.

Candidate Profile

• Leadership Experience: Proven track record leading, training, and motivating a kitchen team within a high-volume catering, hospitality, or education environment.
• Culinary Craftsmanship: Strong hands-on cooking skills with a focus on preparing fresh, nutritious food from scratch.
• Commercial Acumen: Clear understanding of gross profit margins, labor budgets, stock control, and food cost tracking.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Deep understanding of current UK Food Hygiene, Health & Safety, and Allergen regulations.
• Qualifications: Relevant culinary or hospitality management credentials (OND/HND or equivalent NVQ levels) are preferred; equivalent direct commercial experience is equally valued.

Please note: Due to the nature of this working environment, the successful candidate must share a strict commitment to safeguarding children and young people. An enhanced DBS disclosure and relevant background checks will be conducted prior to appointment.

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