Chef Manager

ESS – Defence, Energy and Government Services; Aldermaston; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free meals

Onsite car parking

Contributory pension

Career Pathways

MyLearning

Digital GP access

Discounts on travel

Cinema discounts

Job summary

ESS – Defence, Energy and Government Services is seeking an experienced Chef Manager to lead the catering operation at AWE Mensa near Aldermaston. You will manage a small team of four and oversee a busy lunch service with up to 50 meals daily, plus grab‑and‑go options and a 24/7 unmanned retail shop.

This hands‑on role requires strong culinary leadership, food safety knowledge and a focus on quality, stock control, compliance and driving growth in our on‑site catering offer.

Qualifications

• Previous Chef Manager, Head Chef, or Catering Management experience.
• Strong culinary and leadership skills.
• Experience managing budgets, food costs, and stock control.
• Knowledge of food safety and compliance.
• Commercial mindset with focus on growth and customer experience.
• Eligibility to obtain security clearance, including 5 years' UK residency.

Responsibilities

• Lead catering operation and manage a team of four.
• Oversee lunch service serving up to 50 meals daily.
• Maintain food quality, stock control, and compliance.
• Drive financial performance and grow sales.

Skills

Leadership

Culinary excellence

Budget management

Stock control

Food safety

Job description

Competitive salary of £38000 per annum

We're looking for an experienced Chef Manager - AWE Mensa

Monday to Friday | 7:00am - 3:30pm

We're looking for an experienced Chef Manager to lead our catering operation at AWE Mensa. Managing a team of four. You'll oversee a busy lunch service serving up to 50 main meals daily, alongside a fresh grab-and-go offer, in-house baguettes, and a 24/7 unmanned retail shop.

This is a hands‑on role for someone with a strong culinary background, excellent people management skills, and a passion for delivering great food and service. You'll be responsible for food quality, stock control, compliance, financial performance, and driving future sales growth across the operation.

What We're Looking For

• Previous Chef Manager, Head Chef, or Catering Management experience
• Strong culinary and leadership skills
• Experience managing budgets, food costs, and stock control
• Knowledge of food safety and compliance
• Commercial mindset with a focus on growth and customer experience
• Eligibility to obtain security clearance, including 5 years' UK residency

Why join us?

• Monday to Friday working pattern
• No evening shifts
• Small, supportive team
• Opportunity to develop and grow the catering offer
• Excellent career development opportunities

Please note: This is a secure site and successful candidates will be required to meet security clearance requirements.

Benefits

• Free meals
• Onsite free car parking
• Contributory pension scheme
• Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
• Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
• Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
• Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
• Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
• You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families

About Us

As part of Compass you'll help to feed people, fuel progress and forge connections in around 6,000 venues. Join us to grow your career with the industry leader, and get competitive pay, great perks and unrivalled opportunities for learning and development, at one of the UK's biggest businesses.

Job Reference: com/2409/41478001/52835280/SU #Energy

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!