Chef Manager

Chartwells Independent; Sefton; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Career development programmes

Digital GP access for you and your fam

Travel discounts via major providers

Retailer discounts

Job summary

Compass Group UK&I is seeking a Chef Manager to lead the catering operation at a prestigious independent school. The role follows a term-time pattern Monday to Friday, 41.4 weeks per year, with responsibilities spanning menu planning, food preparation, and service excellence.

You will manage a small team, control food costs, ensure safety compliance, and maintain high standards of customer service in an education setting. Competitive benefits accompany a rewarding work-life balance.

Qualifications

• Must have strong chef skills and passion for fresh food.
• Experience managing a catering operation in an education or similar environment preferred.
• Minimum two years in catering management and team leadership.
• Excellent financial and commercial awareness.
• Strong organisational and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day catering operation and ensure top food quality and service.
• Lead, motivate and develop a small catering team.
• Prepare, cook and serve fresh meals to specified standards.
• Ensure food safety, health & safety and company policies.
• Manage procurement, stock, and labour costs to hit targets.
• Build strong relationships with school, pupils, staff and visitors.
• Maintain a clean, safe kitchen environment.
• Drive continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.

Skills

Strong chef skills

Leadership

Financial awareness

Organisational & communication

Customer-focused

Basic Food Hygiene Certificate

Microsoft Office / IT skills

Education

Basic Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2)

Tools

Catering systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Chef Manager – Prestigious Independent School

Term Time Only | Monday to Friday | 41.4 Weeks Per Year

We're looking for an experienced and passionate Chef Manager to lead the catering operation at a prestigious independent school. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a market-leading contract caterer, delivering outstanding food and service in a rewarding education environment with an excellent work-life balance.

As Chef Manager, you'll take full responsibility for the day-to-day management of the catering operation, leading your team to deliver fresh, high-quality meals while maintaining exceptional food safety, customer service, and financial performance.

What We Offer

We believe in rewarding your hard work with an excellent benefits package, including:

• Monday to Friday working pattern


• Term time only (41.4 weeks per year)


• Contributory pension scheme


• Career development through our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes


• Digital GP access for you and your immediate family, plus wider healthcare benefits


• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more


• Supermarket discounts at Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more


• Up to 44% off cinema tickets


• Cash rewards programme across a wide range of retailers


• Free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes


• The opportunity to share discounts and offers with your friends and family

What You\'ll Be Doing

• Managing the day-to-day catering operation, ensuring the highest standards of food quality and customer service.


• Leading, motivating and developing a small catering team to deliver exceptional results.


• Preparing, cooking and serving fresh, nutritious meals to agreed specifications and standards.


• Ensuring full compliance with food safety, health & safety and company policies.


• Managing food purchasing, stock control and labour costs to achieve financial targets.


• Building positive relationships with the school, pupils, staff and visitors.


• Maintaining a clean, safe and organised kitchen environment.


• Driving continuous improvement, innovation and customer satisfaction across the catering service.

About You

We're looking for someone who has:

• Strong chef skills with a genuine passion for fresh food.


• Previous experience managing a successful catering operation in a similar environment.


• At least two years' catering management experience.


• Experience leading, motivating and developing a small team.


• Excellent financial and commercial awareness.


• Strong organisational and communication skills.


• A customer-focused approach with the ability to build lasting relationships.


• A Basic Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2 minimum).


• Good IT skills and confidence using Microsoft Office and catering systems.


• The ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining high standards.

About Us

As part of Compass you\'ll help to feed people, fuel progress and forge connections in around 6,000 venues. Join us to grow your career with the industry leader, and get competitive pay, great perks and unrivalled opportunities for learning and development, at one of the UK\'s biggest businesses.

Job Reference: com/2807/97507001/52816216/R/SU #Lodestone House

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!