Executive Chef Manager - Croydon

Executive Chef Manager

Salary: £42,000 per annum + Performance Bonus

Contracted Hours: 40 hours per week (Term Time Only)

Location: Croydon / South London

Working Pattern: Monday to Friday (No late nights, no weekends, and school holidays off!)

Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent

The Opportunity

Pineapple Recruitment is proud to partner with an elite education contract caterer to recruit an exceptional Executive Chef Manager for one of the most prestigious and world-renowned educational institutions in South London.

This flagship site requires a visionary culinary leader who can manage a high-volume, high-profile catering operation with creative flair, modern high-street food concepts, and robust commercial acumen. You will lead a dedicated kitchen brigade, driving culinary innovation, managing financial performance, and delivering an extraordinary dining experience for a vibrant, talented community of young creatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Flagship Culinary Leadership: Design and execute high-quality, trend-led, fresh food menus tailored to a dynamic, high-volume educational site while respecting diverse dietary requirements and allergen safety protocols (Natasha's Law).
• Financial & Commercial Ownership: Full P&L responsibility for the unit—managing gross profit (GP) margins, food purchasing, inventory control, labor budgets, and driving retail sales through innovative food events and promotions.
• Team Development & Direction: Lead, coach, and inspire a large kitchen and front-of-house service team, fostering a high-performance culture with a strong focus on professional growth and culinary standards.
• Client & Stakeholder Relations: Maintain an outstanding relationship with key site leadership, acting as the primary point of contact for catering operations, VIP functions, and special events.
• Compliance & Operational Quality: Ensure strict compliance with HACCP, health and safety regulations, food safety legislation, and rigorous internal audit standards.

Skills & Experience Required

• Proven Executive Leadership: Extensive experience as an Executive Chef, Senior Chef Manager, or High-Volume Head Chef within independent school catering, higher education, or premier commercial contract catering.
• Financial Mastery: Strong commercial acumen with a proven track record of managing site budgets, P&Ls, and achieving target GP margins.
• Creative Culinary Flair: Exceptional craft skills with a genuine passion for modern food trends, street food concepts, and fresh ingredient menu innovation.
• Inspirational People Manager: Proven ability to lead, mentor, and motivate a large kitchen team, building a positive and productive team culture.
• Safeguarding: A commitment to safeguarding children and young adults; appointment will be subject to an Enhanced DBS disclosure.

What’s On Offer

• Unbeatable Work-Life Balance: Monday to Friday schedule working term-time only—enjoy evenings, weekends, and all school holidays off!
• Competitive Financial Package: Base salary of £42,000 per annum plus an achievable performance-related bonus scheme.
• Career Elevation: A rare opportunity to manage a flagship, prestigious site for a leading independent school caterer with exceptional career development opportunities.

Contact Us About This Vacancy

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