Chef Manager

Accent Catering Services Ltd; Woking; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK contract catering company is seeking a Chef Manager for a secondary school in Farnborough. This role involves overseeing culinary operations and managing kitchen staff, ensuring high-quality food preparation. Ideal candidates will have excellent culinary skills and experience in team management. The company values innovation and offers competitive salaries along with benefits such as career development opportunities, free meals, and a work-life balance. Join a passionate team dedicated to improving students' dining experiences and lifestyles.

Benefits

Competitive salaries with yearly reviews

Free meals on duty

Career development opportunities

Work-life balance – term-time only and no weekends

Access to Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Proven experience of managing, training, and leading a team.
• Ability to manage your own kitchen and improve standards.
• Familiarity with food and health safety compliance.

Responsibilities

• Oversee culinary operations and food quality.
• Manage kitchen staff including training and scheduling.
• Plan menus and control costs to meet budgets.
• Ensure customer satisfaction through exceptional service.

Skills

Excellent craft skills

Team management experience

Culinary skills

Financial and budget awareness

Detail-oriented

Job description

Chef Manager – Secondary School, Farnborough

People are the most important ingredient in our business recipe, and we are looking for a Chef Manager with fantastic craft skills and a background of developing and leading a team, to help us create an outstanding food offer at our secondary school site in Farnborough GU14.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Chef Manager or for someone who is ready to take the first step into Chef Management, to work in a lovely school supported by a great team. We play an important part in students learning and development, and we are looking for someone who shares our passion about ensuring that our future generations are provided with nutritious and delicious food, while also inspiring them to lead a healthier lifestyle.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the culinary operations within the school, ensuring high‑quality food preparation and maintaining sanitation standards.
• Manage kitchen staff, including training, scheduling and performance.
• Plan menus, manage inventory and control costs to meet budget targets.
• Ensure customer satisfaction through exceptional food service.

Qualifications and Skills

• Excellent craft skills and the ability to manage your own kitchen.
• Proven experience of managing, training and leading a team.
• A proven track record of continually improving standards.
• Passionate about food with excellent culinary skills and a great eye for detail.
• Financial and budget awareness.
• The ability to understand and complete daily all relevant food and health and safety compliance books.

Benefits

• Competitive salaries with yearly reviews.
• Free meals on duty.
• Free parking on site.
• Career development opportunities.
• Multiple discounts on our Accent Engage platform – shops, restaurants, gifts, leisure and more!
• HIT apprenticeships for all experience levels.
• Team events, awards and competitions throughout the year.
• Pension scheme, life insurance and company sick pay.
• Work‑life balance – working term‑time only and no weekends.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme for mental health and financial support.

About Accent Catering

Accent Catering Services Ltd are one of the UK’s leading contract caterers providing innovative food service solutions to a variety of schools and businesses. We are a talented bunch of professionals who create bespoke catering provisions to suit each contract – no two are the same. We are independently owned, so you’ll never be just another number to us. Our people are at the heart of everything we do; we take pride in recognising every individual’s contribution.

Accent Catering is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment. Please note that a DBS disclosure is required for this role.

Accent Catering has been regularly named in The Caterer’s prestigious awards as one of the best places to work in hospitality.