Chef Manager

Manchester Arndale; Coventry; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

OCS UK & Ireland is seeking an experienced Catering Operations Manager to lead seasonal food and drink service at our Coventry site. You will oversee kitchen staff, chefs, and servers, ensuring menus meet client needs while complying with safety, legal, and company standards.

The role requires strong leadership, budget oversight, relationship building with vendors, and the ability to train teams on menus, procedures, and etiquette.

Qualifications

• Must have level 3 in Catering and Hospitality or equivalent.
• NVQ Level 3, HNC or HND in Hospitality is beneficial.
• Experience managing contract catering operations and teams.
• Strong leadership skills with ability to mentor and motivate chefs.

Responsibilities

• Create seasonal food and drink menus for the site and events.
• Oversee all staff (kitchen assistants, chefs, servers) and ensure client requirements are met, with compliance to laws and company standards.
• Train team members on menus, serving procedures, etiquette, safety standards and regulations.
• Adhere to budgets set by line management for food, equipment, staffing and related costs.
• Establish relationships with vendors and ensure procurement offers best prices.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Customer service

Communication

Time management

Organisation

Excel

MS Office

Discretion/confidential handling

Food hygiene (Level 2)

Education

Level 3 in Catering and Hospitality

NVQ/HNC/HND in Hospitality

Tools

Excel

Microsoft Office

Job description

About The Role:

Working Pattern

As part of your role, your key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Work with the Team to create seasonal food and drink menus for the site and any events for the client and its visitors
• Oversee all staff, including kitchen assistants, chefs, and servers, ensuring that the team’s creations meet the client’s needs. They must also ensure that all legal and company requirements are meet daily
• Be responsible for training team members on menus, serving procedures, company etiquette, safety standards, and regulations
• You will need to adhere to budgets set by their line manager when planning catering operations, allocating the budget for food, cooking equipment, staffing, and equipment
• Establish relationships with vendors and ensure that food and other supplies are bought from the correct vendor, ensuring the best prices are obtained

What are we looking for?

• You should have experience in the management of Contract Catering operations and teams and should also have a full understanding of the entire catering operation
• Possess a Level 3 in Catering and Hospitality or equivalent, as well as unit management experience within the Contract Catering sector
• You should have proven leadership skills, with the ability to lead, mentor, and motivate a team of chefs
• Experienced in building relationships with clients and staff, ensuring that the client’s expectations are met every day
• Can work in a fast-paced environment and adapt to changing demands is crucial

The ideal candidate should meet the following criteria:

• Must have the Right to Work in the UK
• Must be prepared to undergo a DBS or Enhanced Security check
• A NVQ Level 3, Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND) in Hospitality is beneficial
• Have management experience within the contract catering industry is essential
• Excellent customer service skills are essential
• Be able to handle varied situations and find practical solutions
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
• Good time-management and organisational abilities
• Can handle sensitive and confidential information
• Competent with Microsoft Office tools, especially Excel
• While not always mandatory, having a food hygiene certificate (Level 2) is advantageous

About The Company:

OCS UK & Ireland is a leading facilities management company with 50,000+ colleagues and a turnover in excess of £2bn. We deliver innovative, award-winning services within facilities management, hard services, cleaning, security and catering.

Our mission is to make people and places the best they can be for our colleagues, customers and the communities we serve. Our commitment to doing business the right way is rooted in our TRUE values -Trust, Respect, Unity, and Empowerment.

Why Work for OCS?

Award-Winning Employer: Ranked 36th on Glassdoor’s Best Companies to Work For 2025 — we value and motivate our people.

Digital Learning: The OCS Academy offers digital courses and resources to help you build skills and grow your career.

Retail Perks: With our Hapi app, you can gain access exclusive discounts, rewards and wellbeing resources.

Professional Growth: 600+ live learners across UK&I — Empowering colleagues with further development and qualifications!

Flexible Pay: Access a portion of earned wages before payday with our Wagestream App! (Contract Specific)

We are an equal opportunities employer and rely on a diverse workforce with a broad range of knowledge, skills, and backgrounds to deliver our goals. We offer an inclusive and welcoming environment and actively encourage applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or age.