Chef Manager

OCS Group; Coventry; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Award-winning employer

Digital learning

Retail perks via Hapi app

Professional growth

Flexible pay via Wagestream

Job summary

OCS UK & Ireland is seeking a Catering Operations Manager in Coventry to lead a site catering team, shaping seasonal menus for client events and ensuring service excellence.

The role requires strong leadership, budget discipline, and a solid background in contract catering; you will train staff, manage vendor relationships, and uphold safety and regulatory standards in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Experience managing Contract Catering operations and teams.
• Level 3 in Catering and Hospitality or equivalent; unit management experience in Contract Catering.
• Proven leadership to mentor and motivate chefs.
• Experience building relationships with clients and staff to meet expectations daily.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and adapt to changing demands.

Responsibilities

• Create seasonal menus for the site and events for the client and its visitors.
• Oversee all staff, ensuring the team’s creations meet client needs and daily legal/company requirements.
• Train team on menus, serving procedures, safety standards, and regulations.
• Adhere to budgets set by line manager when planning catering operations and allocate budget for food, equipment, staffing.
• Build vendor relationships and ensure best prices from correct suppliers.

Skills

Contract catering management

Leadership

Budget management

Vendor relations

Excel proficiency

Education

Level 3 in Catering and Hospitality

NVQ Level 3 / HNC / HND in Hospitality

Job description

About The Role:

Working Pattern

Varied Days

08:30 - 14:00

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 to 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.