Chef Manager

BaxterStorey; Reading; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days holiday

Birthday off

Volunteer days

Grandparent leave

Maternity leave 24 weeks

Wedding/commitment day leave

Free meals on shift

Bespoke training

Apprenticeships opportunities

Pension and life insurance

Perkbox discounts

Wellbeing hub

Cycle to work

Parking

Job summary

BaxterStorey is seeking a Chef Manager in Reading to lead a culinary team and deliver exceptional food experiences. The role covers menu planning, food preparation oversight, and staff management in a Monday–Friday, 07:00–15:00 schedule at 40,000 GBP per year.

You will manage budgets, ensure health and safety compliance, and drive menu development while maintaining excellent customer relations. Parking is available and a strong work-life balance is emphasized.

Qualifications

• Proven experience commensurate with the role.
• Excellent creative culinary skills.
• Leadership and team management abilities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal relations skills.
• Proficiency in food cost management.
• Knowledge of food safety and health and safety regulations.
• Ability to adapt and work in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Menu planning and execution to suit location and client preferences.
• Oversee food preparation and presentation; monitor wastage and portions.
• Recruit, train, and supervise kitchen staff; provide coaching and feedback.
• Manage stock levels and control costs; sensible ordering of supplies.
• Interact with customers to understand catering needs and feedback.
• Support head chef to ensure Health & Safety compliance and food safety policies.
• Develop and innovate menus; stay updated on culinary trends.
• Maintain accurate records of inventory, orders and food prep processes.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Communication

Culinary skills

Food cost management

Health and safety knowledge

Adaptability

Job description

• Bespoke training and development opportunities
• Apprenticeships opportunities for all experience levels
• Pension and life insurance
• Discounts available on our Perkbox app; high street shops, holidays & cinema
• Access to employee assistance programme
• Cycle to work scheme

Company Description

Title: Chef Manager

Location: Reading RG6 1PT

Salary: £40,000 per annum

Monday to Friday ONLY

07.00 - 15.00 (37.5 hours per week)

Parking available

Benefits

• 28 Days holiday including bank holidays
• Plus your birthday off
• 3 volunteering days
• 3 days grandparent leave
• 24 week’s enhanced maternity leave
• Secondary carer leave
• Wedding/commitment day leave
• Free meals on shift
• Bespoke training and development opportunities
• Apprenticeships opportunities for all experience levels
• Pension and life insurance
• Discounts available on our Perkbox app; high street shops, holidays & cinema
• Wellbeing hub
• Access to employee assistance programme
• Cycle to work scheme

Are you a culinary connoisseur / gastronomic genius? Do you have an insatiable passion for the culinary arts and a burning desire to create masterful dishes that delight the senses? Yes? Then this is the role for you. At BaxterStorey we offer an exceptional culinary playground where your creativity can flourish and your talents shine. We wholeheartedly believe that the best food comes from nurturing talent and empowering our chefs to continuously evolve and refine their craft, that’s why invest in you to develop your professional growth.

As a member of our team, you will be supported in an inclusive environment that encourages growth and celebrates diversity. We will invest in your development with ongoing training, to ensure that you have the skills and knowledge to thrive in your role, and we guarantee a good work-life balance, because we believe that people excel when they are given the space to take care of themselves.

Job Description

• Menu Planning and Execution – create and plan menus in accordance with the style and customer preferences of the location. Oversee food preparation and presentation to ensure high-quality dishes, monitoring wastage and portion control
• Employee Management – recruit, train, and supervise all colleagues, including chefs, cooks and front of house. Provide continual guidance, coaching, and performance feedback to kitchen team.
• Inventory and Cost Control – monitor and manage stock levels, sensible approach to ordering supplies
• Customer Relations - Interact with customers to understand their specific catering needs and preferences and maintain an open channel of communication to address any concerns or requirements. Consistently seeking feedback is key to success
• Health and Safety Compliance – support the head chef to ensure adherence to health and safety regulations and food safety protocols/policies. Create an environment that has safety embedded in the culture
• Budget and Financial Management – develop and manage kitchen budgets, report on financial performance and implement any cost savings required without impacting delivery of excellence
• Menu Development and Innovation – stay updated on culinary trends and incorporate new ideas into menus
• Compliance and Documentation - maintain accurate records of inventory, orders, and food preparation processes and ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements

Qualifications

• Proven experience commensurate with role.
• Excellent creative culinary skills
• Leadership and team management abilities
• Excellent communication and interpersonal relations skills
• Proficiency in food cost management
• Knowledge of food safety and health and safety regulations
• Ability to adapt and work in a fast-paced environment
• Works according to the BaxterStorey core values

Additional Information

For almost 20 years, for every client, in every location (whether that’s an office, stadium, cathedral or university), we have created beautiful spaces, exciting menus and friendly teams, so that each and every customer can have the hospitality experience they deserve.

Our drive and belief in our people, means that we always strive to supercharge our team’s careers. ‘Better’ is a daily habit that sits deep within our DNA, meaning learning will be front and centre of your experience working with us.

BaxterStorey Values

ALWAYS VISIONARY

We strive for better, we never settle, never compromise, never follow. We lead the way, blazing our own trail.

Wholeheartedly Positive

We are up-beat, motivating and inspiring. Our love for what we do radiates through our food, and is amplified by our people.

CREATIVELY COLLABORATIVE

We embrace our differences to push creativity and we work together to be better.

FOREVER CONSCIOUS

We work together as a team to lead by example, protecting the planet and supporting local communities.

We are proud to be an inclusive employer and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We celebrate individuality and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage applications from people of all ages, abilities, gender identities, sexual orientations, races, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds.

BaxterStorey is committed to encouraging equity, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I) among our workforce and aim for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society, and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To support our commitment to this we have set ourselves an ambition to ‘set the standard and to be recognised for having the most inclusive culture in hospitality’.