Chef Manager

Aramark; Epsom and Ewell; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Online benefits platform

Life assurance

Pension contributions

Generous holiday entitlement

Apprenticeship schemes

Job summary

Aramark UK is seeking a Chef Manager to lead the catering operation at NESCOT College in Surrey. This role combines culinary leadership with people management, ensuring high-quality food and excellent customer experiences for students, staff and visitors.

You will oversee all kitchen activities, manage budgets and food costs, enforce food safety standards, and drive continuous improvement. A DBS check and Food Hygiene Level 3 are preferred; training and career progression are strong within

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a Chef Manager/Head Chef role in a high-volume catering environment.
• Strong leadership and team-development capabilities.
• Excellent knowledge of food safety, hygiene, allergen management and HSE regulations.
• Experience managing budgets, food and labour costs, and waste reduction.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage day-to-day kitchen operations and service delivery.
• Inspire and develop the kitchen team to maintain high standards.
• Oversee meal prep, cooking and presentation ensuring quality and dietary compliance.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, hygiene and health & safety policies and maintain records.
• Manage budgets, food costs and labour expenditure to meet targets.
• Control stock, ordering and waste through effective inventory planning.
• Build strong relationships with clients and customers and respond to feedback.
• Support catering events and dietary requests while driving improvements.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Budgeting

Food safety

Quality control

Education

Food Hygiene Level 3

Job description

Job Description

Are you a passionate culinary leader looking for your next challenge? We are seeking an experienced Chef Manager to lead our catering operation at NESCOT College in Surrey. This is an exciting opportunity to combine your culinary expertise, people management skills, and commercial awareness in a busy education sector environment, delivering high-quality food and excellent customer experiences every day.

As Chef Manager, you will take full responsibility for kitchen operations, food quality, health and safety compliance, financial performance, and team development. Working closely with both clients and customers, you will play a key role in driving innovation, maintaining exceptional standards, and creating a welcoming dining experience for students, staff, and visitors.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all employees and workers to share this commitment. All roles are subject to safer recruitment checks, including references and an enhanced DBS check, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE).

What's in it for you:

• £44,000 dependant on experience + package
• You will have access to our online benefits platform which includes 100's of discounts, including savings on your weekly supermarket shop and weekend treats!
• We also offer a company package including life assurance, pension contributions, generous holiday entitlement with the option to buy more, and many more perks.
• You will also be joining a great team, with fabulous career prospects and could lead to all sorts of opportunities – we LOVE to promote from within!
• As we are passionate about developing our people from within, great training is provided. We also offer apprenticeship schemes, so your learning journey can continue!

Job Responsibilities

Lead and manage all day-to-day kitchen operations, ensuring efficient food production and service delivery.

Inspire, motivate, and develop the kitchen team to maintain high standards of performance and customer service.

Oversee the preparation, cooking, and presentation of meals, ensuring quality, consistency, and compliance with dietary and allergen requirements.

Ensure full compliance with food safety, hygiene, health and safety, and company policies, maintaining accurate records and audit standards.

Manage kitchen budgets, food costs, and labour expenditure to achieve financial targets.

Control stock ordering, inventory management, and waste reduction through effective stock rotation and operational planning.

Build strong relationships with clients and customers, acting as the main point of contact and responding to queries and feedback.

Support catering events, special dietary requests, and client meetings while driving continuous improvement and business growth opportunities.

Key Requirements:

Proven experience in a Chef Manager, Head Chef, or similar kitchen leadership role within a high-volume catering environment.

Strong culinary knowledge with the ability to consistently deliver high-quality food and excellent customer experiences.

Sound understanding of food safety, hygiene, allergen management, and health & safety regulations.

Demonstrable experience managing budgets, controlling food and labour costs, and reducing waste.

Excellent leadership, communication, and organisational skills, with the ability to motivate and develop a team.

Valid DBS check (or willingness to obtain one) and Food Hygiene Level 3 qualification preferred.

About Aramark

If you are applying for this role and you already work for Aramark, you must notify your line manager before submitting your application.

At Aramark UK, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone is valued and empowered to thrive. As a proud Disability Confident employer, we actively encourage applications from individuals of all abilities and are dedicated to supporting employees with disabilities throughout their career journey.

We ensure our recruitment process is accessible, and reasonable adjustments are available at every stage, from application to interview and employment. If you require any accommodations or have any questions, please reach out to our recruitment team – [e-mail]
Join us in fostering a workplace where everyone can achieve their full potential.