Chef Manager

Sodexo; Sandycroft; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing platform

Employee Assistance Programme

Virtual GP Service

Discounts Scheme

Pension Plan

Learning & development tools

Bike to Work

Job summary

Sodexo is seeking an experienced Chef Manager to lead the catering operation at our Sandycroft site. You will combine strong culinary skills with leadership to deliver high-quality meals and service, while managing budgets and stock.

Day-to-day duties include teaching and coaching the kitchen team, ensuring food safety and allergen controls, and maintaining standards to meet client expectations. This role offers a competitive salary of £37,000 per year and opportunities for professional

Qualifications

• NVQ Chef qualification or equivalent.
• Proven experience in a Chef Manager or catering management role.
• Experience leading, managing and developing a kitchen team.
• Experience managing budgets and controlling costs within a catering environment.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, hygiene and allergen management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day catering and kitchen operation, ensuring consistently high standards of food quality and service.
• Plan, prepare and present meals in line with agreed menus, service standards and client expectations.
• Lead, motivate and develop the kitchen team through coaching, training and performance management.
• Ensure all dietary requirements and allergen controls are managed safely and effectively.
• Maintain excellent standards of food safety, hygiene, cleanliness and due diligence across the unit.
• Ensure the kitchen meets company, client and statutory standards, including audits.
• Manage purchasing, stock control and supplier requirements in line with company policies.
• Monitor and control food costs, labour costs and overall financial performance to meet targets.
• Complete weekly financial trading accurately, ensuring income and invoices are recorded.
• Support hospitality and catering events, including occasional after-hours work.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, customers and colleagues.

Skills

NVQ Chef

Catering management

Budget management

Food safety

Interpersonal skills

Leadership

Organisational skills

IT/computer literacy

Proactive mindset

Collaborative approach

Strong communication

Education

NVQ Chef qualification

Tools

Financial systems

Job description

The following content displays a map of the jobs location - Sandycroft

• Working 5 days over 7 as required, with the usual working pattern being Monday to Friday, 07:00–15:00
• £37000 per annum plus our Sodexo employee benefits package
• Opportunities for professional development

Chef Manager

Sandycroft, CH5 2QP

At Sodexo, we’re passionate about our people. We know that our teams are the key to delivering exceptional service and creating meaningful experiences for our clients, customers, and employees.

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Chef Manager to lead the catering operation at our Sandycroft site. This is an excellent opportunity for a passionate chef who combines strong culinary skills with commercial awareness, leadership and a commitment to delivering exceptional food and service.

As Chef Manager, you will take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the kitchen, ensuring meals are prepared, presented and served to a consistently high standard. You will lead and develop your team, manage budgets and stock, and ensure the operation meets all food safety, hygiene and company standards.

This is an exciting opportunity for a confident chef and people leader who can deliver excellent food and service while managing a successful, safe and commercially effective kitchen operation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day catering and kitchen operation, ensuring consistently high standards of food quality and service.
• Plan, prepare and present meals in line with agreed menus, service standards and client expectations.
• Lead, motivate and develop the kitchen team through effective coaching, training and performance management.
• Ensure all dietary requirements and allergen controls are managed safely and effectively.
• Maintain excellent standards of food safety, hygiene, cleanliness and due diligence across the unit.
• Ensure the kitchen consistently meets company, client and statutory standards, including internal and external audit requirements.
• Manage purchasing, stock control and supplier requirements in line with company policies.
• Monitor and control food costs, labour costs and overall financial performance to achieve budgeted targets.
• Complete weekly financial trading accurately, ensuring all income and supply invoices are correctly recorded.
• Support the delivery of hospitality and catering events as required, including occasional requirements outside normal working hours.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, customers and colleagues at all levels.
• Ensure company policies, procedures and service level agreements are consistently adhered to.
• Take appropriate action and complete required reporting in relation to accidents, incidents, food safety concerns, security or other irregularities.
• Support the wider site management team and provide cover or assistance where required.

What we're looking for

• NVQ Chef qualification or equivalent.
• Proven experience in a Chef Manager or catering management role.
• Previous experience leading, managing and developing a kitchen team.
• Experience managing budgets and controlling costs within a catering environment.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, hygiene and allergen management.
• Good commercial and financial awareness.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and work effectively under pressure.
• Good computer literacy and confidence using financial and operational systems.
• A proactive and self‑motivated approach, with the ability to use your own initiative.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to motivate, coach and develop others.
• A commitment to delivering consistently high standards of food, service and customer satisfaction.
• A flexible and collaborative approach to working.

Why Sodexo?

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it’s a chance tobe part of something greater.

Belong in a company and team that values you foryou.

Act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions.

Thrive in your own way.

We also offer a range of perks, rewards and benefits for our colleagues and their families:

• Unlimited access to an online platform offering wellbeing support
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme to help with everyday issues or life's larger problems, including legal and financial advice, support with work or personal issues impacting your wellbeing
• Access to a 24hr virtual GP Service
• Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering great deals 24/7 across popular high street retailers (also open to friends and family)
• Save for your future by becoming a member of the Pension Plan
• Opportunities to enable colleagues to grow and succeed throughout their career at Sodexo, including a variety of learning and development tools
• Bike to Work Scheme to help colleagues to do their bit for the environment whilst keeping fit
• Sodexo UK and Irelands enhanced benefits and leave policies

A little more about Sodexo

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better every day for everyone to build a better life for all. As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100million consumers each day through our unique combination of On-Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services.

We are committed tobeingan inclusive employer. We are a forces friendly employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds and identities. We encourage our employees to get involved with our Employee Networks such as Pride, Sodexo Parents & Carers, Sodexo Disability, Ability network, SoTogether, Generations and Origins.

We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer. We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations. We run a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.

Ready to be part of something greater?