Chef Manager

Compass Group PLC; Washington; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Pension scheme

Career development

Healthcare benefits

Travel discounts

Cinema discounts

Wellbeing programs

Job summary

Compass Group UK & Ireland is seeking an experienced Chef Manager to lead a catering team at White Oaks in the UK. You will oversee all kitchen operations, ensuring high-quality meals, safety, and exceptional customer satisfaction across daily services and special events.

The role emphasizes hands-on leadership, team development, and creating a positive kitchen culture, with early/late shifts and weekend flexibility integral to the schedule.

Qualifications

• Head Chef, Chef Manager or similar leadership role.
• Strong team management and people development skills.
• Experience in a fast-paced catering environment.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Flexible to work early/late shifts including weekends.
• Catering qualifications such as NVQ or City & Guilds (desirable)

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and develop a kitchen team.
• Plan, prepare and present fresh, nutritious meals.
• Manage catering for daily services and special events.
• Oversee food ordering, stock control and budget management.
• Minimise food waste and drive operational efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with food hygiene and safety standards.
• Create rotas and support day-to-day operations.
• Promote teamwork, pride and continuous improvement.

Skills

Team management

People development

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Hands-on leadership

Education

NVQ/City & Guilds (desirable)

Job description

We're looking for an experienced and passionate Chef Manager to lead our catering team at White Oaks. In this role, you'll oversee the delivery of fresh, high-quality meals while managing all aspects of kitchen operations. From daily food service to special event catering, you'll ensure exceptional standards of food quality, safety and customer satisfaction.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a hands-on culinary leader who enjoys developing teams, driving operational excellence and creating a positive kitchen culture.

What You'll Be Doing

• Leading, motivating and developing a talented kitchen team
• Planning, preparing and presenting fresh, nutritious meals
• Managing catering for both daily services and special events
• Overseeing food ordering, stock control and budget management
• Minimising food waste and driving efficiency across the operation
• Ensuring full compliance with food hygiene, health and safety standards
• Creating effective rotas and supporting smooth day-to-day operations
• Promoting a culture of teamwork, pride and continuous improvement

To be successful in this role, you'll have:

• Previous experience as a Head Chef, Chef Manager or in a similar leadership role
• Strong team management and people development skills
• Experience working in a fast-paced catering environment
• Excellent organisational and communication skills
• A passion for producing high-quality, seasonal food
• A proactive, hands‑on approach with the ability to lead by example
• Relevant catering qualifications such as NVQ or City & Guilds (desirable)
• Flexibility to work a mixture of early and late shifts, including weekends

About Compass Group UK & Ireland

Compass Group is the UK's leading food and support services provider, serving thousands of locations across the country. Every day, we help feed people, fuel progress and create meaningful experiences for our customers and clients.

Join us and you'll enjoy excellent opportunities for career progression, industry‑leading training and development, and the chance to build a rewarding career with one of the UK's largest employers.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We believe in rewarding our colleagues for their hard work and commitment. As part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, you'll benefit from:

• Competitive salary of £35,000 per annum
• Contributory pension scheme
• Career development through Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
• Digital GP access and healthcare benefits for you and your immediate family
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and more
• Savings on everyday shopping at Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and other major retailers
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets
• Cashback rewards across a wide range of brands
• Free wellbeing, mindfulness and exercise classes
• Access to discounts and offers that can be shared with friends and family