Chef Manager

Anchor Hanover Group; Swindon; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Matched pension up to 8%

Blue Light Card discounts

Refer-a-friend bonus £250

Leadership Pathways online learning

Annual Chef of the Year

Job summary

Anchor Hanover Group is seeking an experienced Chef Manager or Head Chef to take full ownership of our kitchen at Marsh Farm Manor, Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire. You’ll lead a kitchen team delivering fresh, seasonal, home-cooked meals for 66 residents daily, overseeing menu design, budgets, and compliance.

This leadership role offers real autonomy with shifts 7:30am–5:30pm, four days a week, and every other weekend off.

Qualifications

• Experience as Chef Manager, Head Chef, or senior Chef leading a team.
• Proven ability to design seasonal, balanced menus from scratch.
• Strong budgeting and compliance skills (hygiene, safety).
• Right to work in the UK (required).

Responsibilities

• Owns kitchen operations for 66 residents daily.
• Leads kitchen team, training, and performance development.
• Manages food budgets, ordering, and compliance with safety standards.
• Designs menus and ensures high-quality, home-cooked meals.

Skills

Leadership

Menu planning

People management

Budgeting

Food hygiene Level 3

Education

Food Hygiene Level 3

Food hygiene Level 4 (preferred)

Tools

Menu design

Quality control

Job description

The basics

Location: Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire

Pay:£32.5k per annum, full-time

Hours: 7:30am–5:30pm | 4 days per week — full-time pay, 3 days off every week

Weekends: Every other weekend off

Home: 66 residents

The Role

We're looking for an experienced Chef Manager or Head Chef to take full ownership of our kitchen at Marsh Farm Manor in Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire. You'll lead the kitchen team in delivering fresh, seasonal, home-cooked meals for 66 residents daily — overseeing everything from menu design and food budgets to team management and compliance.

This is a genuine leadership role with real autonomy. Whether you're an established Chef Manager ready for a new challenge, or a Head Chef taking the next step into a care setting, you'll have the freedom to make this kitchen your own.

Shifts run 7:30am–5:30pm across 4 days per week. No late nights. No split shifts. Every other weekend off.

What We're Looking For

• Proven experience as a Chef Manager, Head Chef, or senior Chef ready to step into a leadership role
• Passionate about cooking from fresh, with the skills to deliver seasonal, balanced menus from scratch
• Strong people management skills — able to lead, develop and motivate a kitchen team
• Confident managing food budgets, ordering, and kitchen compliance
• Sound understanding of food hygiene and safety standards (Level 3 required, Level 4 preferred)
• Right to work in the UK (required)

What You'll Get

• Full autonomy over your kitchen — menus, team, and operations
• Full-time earnings across just 4 days per week
• 3 days off every week — every week, not just some weeks
• 7:30am–5:30pm shifts — home by early evening, every day
• Every other weekend off
• No late nights or split shifts
• A genuine pathway to wider regional opportunities within Anchor
• Matched pension up to 8%
• Free Blue Light Card + big-brand discounts
• £250 refer-a-friend bonus
• Access to Leadership Pathways online learning and development
• Annual Chef of the Year competition
• Gym, fitness and wellbeing discounts
• Mental health support and free life assurance

A bit about Anchor

We're not-for-profit — every penny we save goes back into our homes, our residents, and our people. That means better pay, better training, and a better place to work. As Chef Manager, you'll see that directly in the support and development available to you.

"I've been here three years and never looked back — the hours are brilliant and the team feels like family." — Current Chef, Anchor

Hear from our Chef Managers: https://www.anchor.org.uk/news-events-blogs/blogs/what-its-working-catering-anchor

All applicants must hold the legal right to work in the UK.