Chef Manager - Daventry

Chartwells Independent; Daventry; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Eurest in Daventry is seeking a hands-on Chef Manager to lead day-to-day catering, build strong client relationships and take ownership of the site’s commercial performance.

You will manage a small team, oversee stock control and cost management, and ensure health & safety, allergen compliance and excellent service. The role follows a Monday–Friday pattern with a Christmas shutdown.

Qualifications

• Experience as Chef Manager, Catering Manager or similar.
• Experience in catering/hospitality.
• Experience leading a small team and HR responsibilities.
• Knowledge of stock control, ordering, stocktakes and cost management.
• Experience managing or contributing to P&L and financial performance.
• Strong food preparation and service skills.
• Knowledge of Health & Safety, food safety and allergen compliance.
• Ability to build relationships with clients and customers.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Proactive, independent working style with decision-making ability.
• Desire to develop and grow a new site and drive its success.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day catering and site operations.
• Prepare and serve breakfast and lunch.
• Lead and develop a small team, including HR responsibilities.
• Manage stock control, ordering and stocktakes, and cost control.
• Take full P&L responsibility and monitor financial performance.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships.
• Ensure health & safety, food safety and allergen compliance.
• Ensure training and clear responsibilities for team.
• Oversee the vending operation and ensure a positive customer experience.
• Identify opportunities to improve the offer and site growth.
• Ensure contractual and company standards are met.
• Support the wider Eurest team and site performance.

Skills

Catering management

People management

Stock control

P&L management

Food safety

Client relationships

Communication

Organisation

Independent work

HR responsibilities

Job description

Chef Manager

Location: Daventry
Salary: £35,000 per annum
Working Pattern: Monday to Friday, 07:00–15:30
Break: 30 minutes
Occasional Saturdays: Client requests Saturday cover on an ad-hoc basis; you will not be required to work Saturdays, but you will be responsible for ensuring appropriate cover is in place.

About the Role

Are you a passionate and hands-on Chef Manager looking for an exciting opportunity to make your mark on a new site?

Eurest is looking for an experienced, organised and customer-focused Chef Manager to take ownership of the day-to-day catering operation at our site in Daventry.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys being hands-on, leading a small team and building strong relationships with clients, while also having full responsibility for the commercial and operational performance of the site.

You will play a key role in supporting the development and success of this new operation, ensuring we deliver an excellent food offer, outstanding customer service and strong financial performance.

What You'll Be Doing

• Managing the day-to-day catering and site operations, ensuring a smooth and efficient service.
• Taking a hands-on approach topreparing and serving breakfast and lunch.
• Leading, supporting and developing a small team, including responsibility for relevantHR processes and people management.
• Managingstock control, ordering and regular stocktakes, ensuring effective cost control and minimising waste.
• Takingfull P&L responsibility, monitoring financial performance and identifying opportunities to improve profitability.
• Building and maintaining strong, positiveclient relationships.
• Ensuring full compliance withHealth & Safety, food safety, allergen and company standards.
• Ensuring all team members receive appropriate training and understand their responsibilities.
• Overseeing thevending operation, ensuring it is well stocked, maintained and delivers a positive customer experience.
• Identifying opportunities to improve the offer, increase engagement and support thegrowth and development of the new site.
• Ensuring all contractual and company standards are consistently achieved.
• Supporting the wider Eurest team and taking ownership of the site's overall performance.

About You

We're looking for someone who is hands-on, proactive and commercially aware, with the confidence to take ownership of a catering operation.

You'll ideally have:

• Previous experience in aChef Manager, Catering Manager or similar catering management role.
• Strong experience within a catering or hospitality environment.
• Experience ofleading and managing a small team, including people and HR responsibilities.
• Good knowledge ofstock control, ordering, stocktakes and cost management.
• Experience managing or contributing toP&L and financial performance.
• Strong food preparation and service skills, with a passion for delivering a quality food offer.
• Excellent knowledge ofHealth & Safety, food safety and allergen compliance.
• The ability to build and maintain strong relationships with clients and customers.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• A proactive approach, with the ability to work independently and make decisions.
• A genuine desire to develop and grow a new site and make a positive impact from day one.

Why Join Eurest?

This is more than just a Chef Manager position it's an opportunity to take ownership of a new operation and help shape its future.

You'll have the autonomy to make a difference, develop your team, build a strong client partnership and influence the success of the site, while being supported by the wider Eurest and Compass Group network.

The working pattern is Monday to Friday, 07:00–15:30, giving you a great work-life balance. The site has ayearly shutdown around Christmas and New Year, andbank holidays are not worked.

If you're an experienced catering professional who combines great food, strong leadership, commercial awareness and excellent customer service, we'd love to hear from you.