Chef Manager

Holroyd Howe; West Bridgford; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Grandparent leave

Maternity leave – 24 weeks enhanced

Training & development opportunities

Pension & life insurance

Discounts via Perkbox

Wellbeing hub & employee assistance

Free meals while at work

Apprenticeships for all experience

Job summary

Holroyd Howe is recruiting a Chef Manager to lead the kitchen team at Nottingham Girls' High School. You will oversee day-to-day operations, deliver fresh, high-quality meals, and ensure exceptional service for pupils and staff.

The role focuses on allergen management, menu planning, budget control, and maintaining the highest standards of safety and presentation within a contract catering environment.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership and team management ability.
• Experience running a kitchen in a contract catering setting.
• Experience in independent education sector preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen operations ensuring high standards of food quality, safety and presentation.
• Manage and support a small kitchen team, fostering a positive working environment.
• Oversee menu planning, stock control and supplier relationships.
• Maintain accurate financial records including budgets, ordering and stock rotation.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, health & safety and safeguarding policies.
• Collaborate with the school community to provide a friendly and efficient catering experience.
• Champion allergen controls and promote safe dining for pupils and staff.

Skills

Leadership

Kitchen management

Allergen controls

Communication

Food safety standards

Sustainability

Job description

• 3 days grandparent leave for those special family moments
• 24 weeks enhanced maternity leave
• Bespoke training & development opportunities
• Pension & life insurance
• Discounts on high street brands, cinema & holidays via the Perkbox App
• Wellbeing hub & access to employee assistance programme
• Free meals while at work
• Career development through apprenticeships for all experience levels.

About the Role

We are seeking a passionate and experienced Chef Manager to lead the kitchen team at Nottingham Girls' High School, You will be responsible for managing day-to-day kitchen operations, delivering fresh, high-quality meals, and ensuring exceptional food service for pupils, staff, and visitors. You will be joining Holroyd Howe, one of the UK's leading contract caterers, providing fresh innovative food services solely to independent schools and colleges. We are a team of experienced professionals who tailor our catering service provision specifically to suit children of all ages in order to meet the bespoke requirements of each school. The safety and wellbeing of the people we serve is at the heart of everything we do. A key element is effective allergen management; achieved through training, communication, and care, we create mealtimes where every pupil has a safe experience. Our mission is simple: to provide our teams with the right skills to succeed in their job and our exceptional teams of seasoned specialists customise our catering services to fit children of all ages and satisfy the unique needs of our clients.

• Lead kitchen operations ensuring the highest standards of food quality, safety, and presentation
• Manage and support a small kitchen team, fostering a positive working environment
• Oversee menu planning, stock control, and supplier relationships
• Maintain accurate financial records including budgets, ordering, and stock rotation
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, health & safety, and safeguarding policies
• Work collaboratively with the school community to provide a friendly and efficient catering experience
• Accountability for following and championing allergen controls, Our respectful codes of conduct inform how we behave towards our clients and customers, suppliers and business partners, and each other.
• Previous experience as a Chef Manager or similar role within contract catering, ideally the Independent Education sector
• Strong kitchen management and leadership skills
• Passionate about using fresh, seasonal ingredients to create balanced, appealing menus
• Excellent organisational and communication skills
• Knowledge of food safety standards, allergen management, and sustainability best practices