Chef Manager

Restaurant Associates UK; Greater London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Career development

Digital GP access

Travel discounts

Food discounts

Cinema tickets

Cash rewards

Wellness & fitness

Friend & family discounts

Job summary

Restaurant Associates UK is seeking an experienced Chef Manager to lead the kitchen and cafe operation, delivering exceptional food and service while inspiring and developing the team. You’ll take ownership of day-to-day operations, food quality, health & safety, compliance, stock and costs, while working closely with clients and stakeholders to create an outstanding food experience.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who combines strong culinary skills with commercial awareness,

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years' experience as Chef de Partie/Senior Chef de Partie with leadership responsibilities.
• Strong culinary skills and a track record of delivering high-quality food experiences.
• Commercial awareness including budgets, costs and performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and develop the kitchen and catering team, setting clear standards.
• Deliver an exceptional Client Food Programme with seasonal menus and events.
• Oversee food preparation, presentation, quality and service standards.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, HSE and company requirements.
• Manage stock, purchasing, food costs, wastage and overtime spend.
• Maintain audit performance and accurate operational records.
• Build relationships with clients, customers and stakeholders.
• Drive engagement, innovation and continuous improvement across the operation.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Budget awareness

Job description

We’re looking for an experienced and passionate Chef Manager to lead our kitchen and café operation, delivering exceptional food and service while inspiring and developing the team. You’ll take ownership of day‑to‑day operations, food quality, health & safety, compliance, stock and costs, while working closely with clients and stakeholders to create an outstanding food experience. This is a hands‑on leadership role for someone who combines strong culinary skills with commercial awareness, creativity and a genuine passion for people.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and develop the kitchen and catering team, setting clear standards and supporting succession planning.
• Deliver an exceptional Client Food Programme, including seasonal menus, specials, themed events and promotions.
• Oversee food preparation, presentation, portion control, quality and service standards.
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, HSE, hygiene and company requirements.
• Manage stock, purchasing, food costs, wastage, agency and overtime spend.
• Maintain strong audit performance and accurate operational records.
• Build positive relationships with clients, customers and stakeholders.
• Drive engagement, innovation and continuous improvement across the operation.

What You'll Need To Succeed

• Minimum 3 years' experience as a Chef de Partie / Senior Chef de Partie, with leadership experience.
• Strong culinary skills and a passion for delivering high-quality food experiences.
• Commercially focused, with an understanding of budgets, costs and performance.
• Confident people leader with experience of coaching, developing and motivating teams.
• Strong communicator with the ability to build relationships at all levels.
• Knowledge of food safety, hygiene and HSE requirements.
• Creative, proactive and always looking for ways to improve food, service and operations.
• Able to manage multiple priorities while maintaining high standards in a fast‑paced environment.

Benefits

We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

• 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

Restaurant Associates provides brilliant hospitality through our food, drink and services. We work with our partners and collaborate with our clients to achieve great things together. Every day, our teams of passionate hospitality professionals strive for excellence in delivering employee dining and hospitality to some of the UK's leading workplace as well as inspiring exceptional experiences in iconic cultural and heritage destinations.

Job Reference: com/1809/43121001/52734982/SU #RA Group

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!

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