Chef Manager

Holroyd Howe; Chester; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days holiday

Volunteering days

Grandparent leave

Enhanced maternity leave

Training & development

Pension & life insurance

Perkbox discounts

Wellbeing hub & EAP

Free meals

Apprenticeships

Job summary

Holroyd Howe is seeking a passionate Chef Manager to lead the kitchen team at Pownall Hall School, Cheshire. You will manage day-to-day kitchen operations, deliver fresh, high-quality meals for pupils, staff and visitors, and uphold exceptional catering standards.

We value strong leadership, experience in contract catering, and a commitment to food safety and allergen controls. Join a supportive team with opportunities for development and a focus on school catering excellence.

Qualifications

• Experience as Chef Manager or similar in contract catering.
• Strong kitchen management and leadership skills.
• Passionate about fresh, seasonal ingredients.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Knowledge of allergen controls and sustainability practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen operations ensuring high standards of food quality, safety, and presentation.
• Manage and support a small kitchen team.
• Oversee menu planning, stock control, and supplier relationships.
• Maintain accurate financial records including budgets, ordering, and stock rotation.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, health & safety, and safeguarding policies.
• Work collaboratively with the school community to provide a friendly and efficient catering experience.
• Accountability for following and championing allergen controls.

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Menu planning

Food safety

Allergen management

Contract catering experience

Communication skills

Job description

Company Description

Job Title: Chef Manager
Location: Cheshire
Contract Type: Full Time
Salary: £34K per annum

Why Join Us?

• 28 days holiday (including bank holidays)
• 3 volunteering days to give back to causes you care about
• 3 days grandparent leave for those special family moments
• 24 weeks enhanced maternity leave
• Bespoke training & development opportunities
• Pension & life insurance
• Discounts on high street brands, cinema & holidays via the Perkbox App
• Wellbeing hub & access to employee assistance programme
• Free meals while at work
• Career development through apprenticeships for all experience levels.

About the Role:

We are seeking a passionate and experienced Chef Manager to lead the kitchen team at Pownall Hall School. You will be responsible for managing day-to-day kitchen operations, delivering fresh, high-quality meals, and ensuring exceptional food service for pupils, staff, and visitors.

You will be joining Holroyd Howe, one of the UK’s leading contract caterers, providing fresh innovative food services solely to independent schools and colleges. We are a team of experienced professionals who tailor our catering service provision specifically to suit children of all ages in order to meet the bespoke requirements of each school.

The safety and wellbeing of the people we serve is at the heart of everything we do. A key element is effective allergen management; achieved through training, communication, and care, we create mealtimes where every pupil has a safe experience. Our mission is simple: to provide our teams with the right skills to succeed in their job and our exceptional teams of seasoned specialists customise our catering services to fit children of all ages and satisfy the unique needs of our clients.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead kitchen operations ensuring the highest standards of food quality, safety, and presentation
• Manage and support a small kitchen team, fostering a positive working environment
• Oversee menu planning, stock control, and supplier relationships
• Maintain accurate financial records including budgets, ordering, and stock rotation
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, health & safety, and safeguarding policies
• Work collaboratively with the school community to provide a friendly and efficient catering experience
• Accountability for following and championing allergen controls

Qualifications

Candidate Profile:

• Previous experience as a Chef Manager or similar role within contract catering, ideally the Independent Education sector
• Strong kitchen management and leadership skills
• Passionate about using fresh, seasonal ingredients to create balanced, appealing menus
• Excellent organisational and communication skills
• Knowledge of food safety standards, allergen management, and sustainability best practices

Additional Information

We pride ourselves on:

People first
We’re a company of individuals, united in doing our best for our clients.

Great food, always
Using only the best ingredients, our food is fresh, authentic and tailored to each school, age group, and specific needs and preferences.

Food education
We educate pupils through food, encouraging them to understand and develop their own personal tastes and make informed food choices.

Respect in everything we do
Our respectful codes of conduct inform how we behave towards our clients and customers, suppliers and business partners, and each other.

Fresh thinking
New ideas for food, service and ways of working help us maintain our position as creative leaders in school catering.

In order to be considered for this role you must be able to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK.

Holroyd Howe is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all employees to share this commitment. All roles within Holroyd Howe involve regulated activity. It is a criminal offence for individuals barred from working with children to apply for such roles. An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, including a Barred List check will be required for all successful applicants. Shortlisted applicants will be asked to provide information about relevant criminal offences and will be subject to an online search of publicly available information. This search helps identify any issues that may affect suitability to work with children.

This appointment is offered on the return of satisfactory professional references.