Area Chef Manager - Newport

Chartwells Schools; Newport; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Own transport required

Monday–Friday pattern

Job summary

Lodestone House, part of Compass Group UK&I, is seeking an experienced Area Chef Manager to oversee catering across Newport sites. You will lead teams, drive culinary standards and deliver engaging food concepts to boost meal uptake.

The ideal candidate has proven senior catering leadership experience, strong culinary skills, and the ability to travel between Newport sites with their own transport. Monday–Friday pattern.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in senior catering leadership roles.
• Strong ability to develop menus and improve taste, presentation and value.
• Experience coaching and developing large catering teams.
• Solid understanding of food hygiene and safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead catering teams across multiple sites in Newport and surrounding area.
• Provide hands-on culinary support to Chef Managers and kitchen teams.
• Drive high food quality, presentation and service standards.
• Increase meal uptake through engaging promotions and customer-focused concepts.
• Develop and deliver culinary workshops, demonstrations and tastings.
• Coach and develop staff and manage budgets, costs and waste.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Menu development

Staff coaching

Food cost control

Workshop delivery

Education

City & Guilds/NVQ or equivalent

Food Hygiene qualification

Job description

Own Transport Essential

Area Chef Manager – Newport

Salary: £37,000 per annum

Location: Newport and surrounding area

Working pattern: Monday to Friday

Own Transport Essential

We’re looking for an experienced and passionate Area Chef Manager to support our catering teams across a number of sites in Newport and the surrounding area. This is an exciting, hands-on role for someone who loves great food, enjoys developing people and can bring fresh ideas to our catering offer. You’ll work closely with site teams to drive culinary standards, support operational excellence and increase meal uptake through engaging food concepts, promotions and customer-focused initiatives. You’ll also play a key role in delivering culinary workshops, food showcases and demonstrations, inspiring our teams and customers while bringing our food offer to life. As this is a mobile role covering multiple locations, you must have access to your own transport and be comfortable travelling between sites as required.

Your Key Responsibilities Will Include

• Leading, supporting and motivating catering teams across multiple sites
• Providing hands-on culinary support to Chef Managers and kitchen teams
• Ensuring consistently high standards of food quality, presentation and service
• Supporting sites to increase meal uptake and participation
• Developing initiatives, promotions and food concepts designed to encourage customers to choose our food offer
• Planning and delivering culinary workshops, chef demonstrations and food showcases
• Supporting tasting sessions and engagement activities to showcase new dishes and menu ideas
• Sharing culinary best practice and inspiring teams to continually improve
• Supporting menu development and the implementation of new menus and food concepts
• Coaching, training and developing catering teams
• Monitoring food costs, stock, ordering and waste
• Supporting sites to operate efficiently and within agreed budgets
• Maintaining excellent food hygiene, cleanliness and Health and Safety standards
• Building strong relationships with clients, customers and site teams
• Listening to customer feedback and using it to improve the food offer
• Providing support and cover across sites when required

Our Ideal Area Chef Manager Will

• Have previous experience as an Area Chef, Chef Manager, Head Chef or similar
• Be passionate and creative about food with the ability to inspire others
• Have strong culinary skills and a great eye for food quality and presentation
• Have proven experience leading, coaching and motivating catering teams
• Be confident delivering culinary workshops, demonstrations and food showcases
• Understand how great food, presentation, engagement and promotions can help drive meal uptake
• Have strong organisational and time-management skills
• Understand food costs, stock control, waste management and kitchen budgets
• Have excellent knowledge of Food Hygiene and Health and Safety
• Hold a recognised catering qualification such as City & Guilds, NVQ or equivalent
• Hold a Food Hygiene qualification
• Be confident building strong relationships with clients and customers
• Have a flexible, positive and hands-on approach
• Have access to their own transport and be able to travel between sites throughout the Newport area

What we offer

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced catering professional who wants to make a real impact across multiple sites. With a £37,000 salary and Monday to Friday working pattern, you’ll have the opportunity to combine operational leadership with your passion for food, supporting our teams to develop their skills and helping us create food experiences that customers genuinely want to come back for.

About Us

Part of Compass Group UK&I, Lodestone House is the leading provider of catering and support services to the education sector. For over a quarter of a century, Lodestone House has been focusing on helping those in education to build strong bodies, sharp minds and lead long healthy lives. Every week, Lodestone House serves millions of nutritious and delicious meals to pupils and students in primary and secondary schools, academies, independent schools, colleges, and universities across the UK.

Lodestone House is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all employees to share this commitment. Any offer of employment will be subject to successfully completing pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS disclosure and a Children’s Barred List check. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and we ask applicants to declare all previous convictions and cautions in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!