Chef Manager - Sutton

Chef Manager

Salary: £16.00 per hour
Contracted Hours: 40 hours per week (Term Time Only — 38 weeks per year)
Location: Sutton area
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 the Epsom/Sutton area.

This role offers the ultimate work-life balance for an experienced culinary leader. You will take charge of a busy 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 Excellence: Oversee fresh food preparation, menu delivery, and drive uptake through monthly themed promotions and added-value school events.

• Quality & Compliance: 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.

• Culinary Craft Skills: Strong hands-on culinary background with a passion for using fresh ingredients to deliver high-quality, nutritious meals.

• Leadership Track Record: Experience managing and motivating a team within a commercial, contract catering, or educational kitchen setting.

• Compliance Knowledge: Thorough understanding of health & safety practices and food hygiene regulations (OND/HND qualifications are advantageous, but practical experience is key).

• Safeguarding: Must 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 (38 weeks/year)—enjoy all weekends, bank holidays, and school holidays off!

• Competitive Pay: £16.00 per hour on a guaranteed 40-hour term-time contract.

• Career Progression: Access to dedicated L&D pathways, apprenticeship programmes, and structured career development.

Contact Us About This Vacancy

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