Relief Chef Manager - Staffordshire

Our client is a market leading contract catering company specialising in school food. By combining their understanding of the education sector and their knowledge of what’s on trend in the food world, they encourage creativity and excitement in their kitchens, allowing the teams to do what they do best and provide fantastic food experiences for the children.

The Role:

As a Relief Chef Manager, you take complete financial and operational responsibility school's catering facilities within your area. This is a hands-on leadership role where you'll be driving profitability and setting the standard for culinary excellence. You’ll lead from the front, deliver exceptional, creative food, and make every school mealtime fun, exciting, and truly memorable.

Your responsibilities will include:

You will be responsible for the entire catering operation, skillfully balancing inspirational leadership with sharp commercial acumen.

• Operational Leadership: Inspire, manage, and motivate the team to consistently deliver a fantastic dining experience aligned with our high company standards.

• Culinary Excellence: Lead the preparation of delicious and nutritious, high-quality meals using our menus, while actively overseeing and driving menu development and innovation.

• Team Development: Champion the growth of your unit by leading, coaching, and training all staff in a positive and professional manner, building a resilient, high-performing team.

• Commercial Control: Maintain full control over all costs (stock, food, labour). Expertly manage profitability and improve efficiency through rigorous cost control.

• Sales & Growth: Drive sales success through exciting monthly promotions and creative added-value events.

• Client Relations: Build and maintain positive, professional relationships with clients and customers

• Compliance & Audit: Guarantee 100% compliance with all company procedures and statutory legislation (H&S, Hygiene, Allergens), performing regular internal audits.

About you

Our client is looking for a high-calibre professional who shares their passion for great-tasting food and providing exceptional service while maintaining the highest standards.

• A full UK driving licence to allow travel between schools

• A natural, positive manager with prior experience effectively managing and motivating a team in a commercial catering setting.

• A robust financial understanding of gross profit management, cost control, and a proven track record of achieving sales targets.

• Strong, demonstrable craft-based experience using fresh ingredients and maintaining high cooking standards.

• Strong, in-depth working knowledge of Health and Safety practices and compliance within a professional kitchen.

• OND or HND Qualification, or equivalent management certification, is preferred, but not essential if experience is strong.

Why join?

Firstly, fantastic hours. You’ll work Monday to Friday during school term time meaning more time with friends and family and no working at Christmas!

This role is:

• Monday to Friday working - no more weekends!

• 30 hours working with no late nights.

• 39 weeks per year based around school term time (more time to spend with friends and family!).

• £14.50 per hour + paid mileage

You’ll also benefit from:

• Working for a fast growing, ambitious company. There is no ceiling here in terms of where you can take your career
• A dedicated L&D team to support you in developing your skills including apprenticeships and training courses that are available for everyone.

Please note, we do expect all staff to share their commitment of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children/young people and an enhanced DBS disclosure will be sought by the company.

Contact us about this vacancy
Kat Kantorova
07548 963 089
kat.kantorova@pineapple-recruitment.co.uk

Pineapple Recruitment are recruiting for this role on behalf of our client and are acting as a Recruitment Agency.