Chef Manager

Chartwells Independent; Reigate; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free meals

Free onsite parking

Contributory pension

Career development

Digital GP & healthcare

Travel discounts

Food shopping discounts

Cinema discounts

Cash rewards

Wellness classes

Friends & family offers

Job summary

Chartwells Independent in Reigate is seeking a Chef Manager to lead the kitchen and day-to-day operations. You will ensure exceptional food quality, service, and client experience while hands-on in the kitchen and guiding a high-performing team.

The role requires strong culinary skill, commercial awareness, and ability to manage budgets, costs, and stock. You’ll promote safety compliance and drive revenue growth in a contract catering environment.

Qualifications

• Previous experience as a Chef Manager, Head Chef, or accomplished Sous Chef ready to take the next step.
• Exceptional culinary skills and a genuine passion for delivering high-quality food.
• A hands‑on leader who enjoys motivating, developing, and inspiring others.
• Strong commercial awareness, with experience managing budgets and controlling costs.
• The ability to build positive client relationships and deliver excellent customer service.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills, with a proactive approach to problem‑solving.
• A thorough understanding of health & safety and food safety legislation.
• Experience within contract catering would be an advantage, although it’s not essential.

Responsibilities

• Deliver consistently high standards of food quality, presentation, and customer service.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, ensuring their expectations are exceeded.
• Manage budgets, food costs, GP, and overall financial performance.
• Oversee stock control, purchasing, and waste reduction to maximise efficiency.
• Drive retail and hospitality sales, identifying opportunities to grow revenue.
• Lead, inspire, and develop your team, creating a positive and high-performing culture.
• Ensure full compliance with health & safety, food safety, and company procedures.
• Monitor operational performance, using data and feedback to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Act as a brand ambassador, promoting the site and delivering an exceptional customer experience.

Skills

Chef management

Head Chef

Sous Chef

Culinary skills

Hands-on leadership

Commercial awareness

Budget control

Client relations

Customer service

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Health & safety

Contract catering

Job description

Chef Manager – Reigate | Up to £50,000

Passionate about great food and ready to take the next step? We’re looking for a talented Chef Manager in Reigate, offering up to £50,000!

Take the lead in a role where you can combine your culinary expertise, passion for great food, and strong commercial and operational leadership. As Chef Manager, you’ll be responsible for overseeing the kitchen and day-to-day operation, ensuring exceptional food quality, outstanding service, and an excellent client experience.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Head Chef looking to broaden their commercial expertise while remaining hands‑on in the kitchen and leading a successful, high‑performing team.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Deliver consistently high standards of food quality, presentation, and customer service.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, ensuring their expectations are exceeded.
• Manage budgets, food costs, GP, and overall financial performance.
• Oversee stock control, purchasing, and waste reduction to maximise efficiency.
• Drive retail and hospitality sales, identifying opportunities to grow revenue.
• Lead, inspire, and develop your team, creating a positive and high‑performing culture.
• Ensure full compliance with health & safety, food safety, and company procedures.
• Monitor operational performance, using data and feedback to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Act as a brand ambassador, promoting the site and delivering an exceptional customer experience.

What We’re Looking For

• Previous experience as a Chef Manager, Head Chef, or accomplished Sous Chef ready to take the next step.
• Exceptional culinary skills and a genuine passion for delivering high-quality food.
• A hands‑on leader who enjoys motivating, developing, and inspiring others.
• Strong commercial awareness, with experience managing budgets and controlling costs.
• The ability to build positive client relationships and deliver excellent customer service.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills, with a proactive approach to problem‑solving.
• A thorough understanding of health & safety and food safety legislation.
• Experience within contract catering would be an advantage, although it’s not essential.

What’s In It For You?

• Up to £50,000 salary
• Free meals
• Free onsite car parking
• Contributory pension scheme
• Career development through our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
• Digital GP and wider healthcare benefits for you and your immediate family
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com, and many more
• Discounts on your food shop with Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and more
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets
• Cash rewards across a wide range of brands
• Free wellness, mindfulness, and exercise classes
• Discounts and offers that can be shared with friends and family

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.

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