Chef Manager - Cheshire

Baxterstorey; Crewe; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading catering company located in Crewe seeks an experienced Chef Manager to oversee menu planning, employee management, and compliance with health standards. This role requires strong culinary creativity, leadership, and financial acumen to manage kitchen operations effectively. The ideal candidate should have a background in contract catering and demonstrate excellent communication skills. The position offers a supportive environment, competitive benefits, and opportunities for personal growth in the culinary arts.

Benefits

28 days holiday including bank holidays

Free meals on shift

Bespoke training and development opportunities

Access to employee assistance programme

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Chef Manager required.
• Financially astute with menu costing abilities.
• Excellent creative culinary skills expected.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute menus that reflect customer preferences.
• Recruit and train kitchen and front-of-house staff.
• Monitor stock levels and manage inventory effectively.

Skills

Culinary creativity

Leadership abilities

Communication skills

Food cost management

Knowledge of health and safety regulations

Education

Proven experience as a Chef Manager

Experience in contract catering sector

Job description

Around 150-200 within the premises using the food service on offer at location within the cafe / restaurant. Traditional style menus. Team of 4 BaxterStorey team members with the Chef Manager. The Chef Manager will oversee all aspects of front & back of house including vending & hospitality.

Responsibilities

• Menu Planning and Execution - create and plan menus in accordance with the style and customer preferences of the location. Oversee food preparation and presentation to ensure high-quality dishes, monitoring wastage and portion control
• Employee Management - recruit, train, and supervise all colleagues, including chefs, cooks and front of house. Provide continual guidance, coaching, and performance feedback to kitchen team.
• Inventory and Cost Control - monitor and manage stock levels, sensible approach to ordering supplies
• Customer Relations - Interact with customers to understand their specific catering needs and preferences and maintain an open channel of communication to address any concerns or requirements. Consistently seeking feedback is key to success
• Health and Safety Compliance - support the head chef to ensure adherence to health and safety regulations and food safety protocols/policies. Create an environment that has safety embedded in the culture
• Budget and Financial Management - develop and manage kitchen budgets, report on financial performance and implement any cost savings required without impacting delivery of excellence
• Menu Development and Innovation - stay updated on culinary trends and incorporate new ideas into menus
• Compliance and Documentation - maintain accurate records of inventory, orders, and food preparation processes and ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Chef Manager required.
• Financially astute as this is a fixed cost site so need to create menus, run costings and trading.
• Ideally recent background within the contract catering sector.
• Excellent creative culinary skills.
• Leadership and team management abilities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal relations skills.
• Proficiency in food cost management.
• Knowledge of food safety and health and safety regulations.
• Ability to adapt and work in a fast-paced environment.
• Works according to the BaxterStorey core values.

Additional Information For almost 20 years, for every client, in every location (whether that's an office, stadium, cathedral or university), we have created beautiful spaces, exciting menus and friendly teams, so that each and every customer can have the hospitality experience they deserve. We need the brightest and the best to join us to make this all possible. We will support you to create your hospitality legacy and build a career that you are proud of. Our drive and belief in our people, means that we always strive to supercharge our team's careers. 'Better' is a daily habit that sits deep within our DNA, meaning learning will be front and centre of your experience working with us.

We work together as a team to lead by example, protecting the planet and supporting local communities. Interested? Even if you don't meet all requirements, we'd like to hear from you. If you are motivated and hungry to learn, we can work together to develop your potential. We are proud to be an inclusive employer and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We celebrate individuality and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage applications from people of all ages, abilities, gender identities, sexual orientations, races, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds. BaxterStorey is committed to encouraging equity, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I) among our workforce and aim for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society, and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To support our commitment to this we have set ourselves an ambition to 'set the standard and to be recognised for having the most inclusive culture in hospitality'. Join us and bring your unique perspective to our team.

Benefits

• 28 Days holiday including bank holidays
• Plus your birthday off
• 3 volunteering days
• 3 days grandparent leave
• 24 week's enhanced maternity leave
• Secondary carer leave
• Wedding/commitment day leave
• Free meals on shift
• Bespoke training and development opportunities
• Apprenticeships opportunities for all experience levels
• Pension and life insurance
• Discounts available on our Perkbox app; high street shops, holidays & cinema
• Wellbeing hub
• Access to employee assistance programme
• Cycle to work scheme

Are you a culinary connoisseur / gastronomic genius? Do you have an insatiable passion for the culinary arts and a burning desire to create masterful dishes that delight the senses? Yes? Then this is the role for you. At BaxterStorey we offer an exceptional culinary playground where your creativity can flourish and your talents shine. We wholeheartedly believe that the best food comes from nurturing talent and empowering our chefs to continuously evolve and refine their craft, that's why invest in you to develop your professional growth. As a member of our team, you will be supported in an inclusive environment that encourages growth and celebrates diversity. We will invest in your development with ongoing training, to ensure that you have the skills and knowledge to thrive in your role, and we guarantee a good work-life balance, because we believe that people excel when they are given the space to take care of themselves.