Chef Manager

Select; Stevenage; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Birthday off

Free meals on duty

Pension & life assurance

Employee Assistance Programme

CODE Hospitality membership

Ongoing training and career deve lopm​

Job summary

Select in Stevenage is seeking a hands-on Chef Manager to lead a vibrant catering operation. You’ll stay hands-on in the kitchen, creating fresh sandwiches, a daily bistro dish, baking, hospitality and seriously good coffee.

You’ll manage a small team, plan menus, control stock and costs, build great customer relationships and keep standards high across food, presentation and service. Monday–Friday, 40 hours, up to £42,000.

Qualifications

• Experienced Chef Manager/Head/Sous Chef who enjoys ownership.
• Passionate about fresh, quality food.
• Confident leading a small team.
• Creative and commercially aware.
• Hands-on and willing to get involved in all kitchen duties.
• Organised and reliable.
• Comfortable managing stock, costs and purchasing.
• Coffee/barista enthusiasm is a bonus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a small, friendly team in a busy kitchen.
• Create fresh sandwiches, daily dishes, baking and hospitality.
• Bring creativity and variety to the food offer.
• Plan menus, ordering and production.
• Manage stock, budgets, food costs and waste.
• Build great relationships with customers.
• Maintain high standards across food, presentation and service.
• Get involved wherever needed, including the coffee bar.

Skills

Team leadership

Kitchen management

Hands-on cooking

Creativity

Customer service

Job description

Chef Manager

Stevenage | up to £42,000 | Monday–Friday | 40 Hours

Fresh food. Great coffee. No weekends.

Looking for a Chef Manager role where you can actually cook?

We’re recruiting for a hands‑on Chef Manager to take the lead at a vibrant catering operation in Stevenage.

This is a small, close-knit operation with plenty of personality — and a great opportunity for a chef who loves fresh food, creative ideas and being part of the action.

You’ll lead a small team while staying firmly hands‑on in the kitchen, creating fresh sandwiches, a daily bistro dish, baking, hospitality and seriously good coffee.

What’s the role?

You’ll take ownership of the catering operation, from the food on the counter to the team delivering it.

• Lead and develop a small, friendly team
• Create fresh sandwiches, daily dishes, baking and hospitality
• Bring creativity and variety to the food offer
• Plan menus, ordering and production
• Manage stock, budgets, food costs and waste
• Build great relationships with customers
• Keep standards high across food, presentation and service
• Get stuck in wherever needed — including the coffee bar

No two days need to look the same.

What we’re looking for

You’ll be an experienced Chef Manager, Head Chef, Sous Chef or kitchen manager who enjoys taking ownership.

You’ll need to be:

• Passionate about fresh, quality food
• Confident leading a small team
• Creative and commercially aware
• Hands‑on and happy to get stuck in
• Organised and reliable
• Comfortable managing stock, costs and purchasing
• A natural with customers
• A coffee/barista enthusiast would be a bonus

Most importantly, you’ll love food, people and being part of the day‑to‑day operation.

What’s in it for you?

up to £42,000 (DoE) | Monday–Friday | 40 hours

Plus:

• Your birthday off
• Free meals on duty
• Enhanced family leave
• Pension & life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• CODE Hospitality membership
• Ongoing training and career development
• Foodie Socials, Summer Awards & Christmas celebrations

Ready for a Chef Manager role with a bit more personality?