Chef Manager - Daventry

Compass Group UK; Daventry; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Eurest, part of Compass Group UK, is seeking a hands-on Chef Manager to lead the Daventry site, drive service quality and manage day-to-day catering operations.

You will lead a small team, own the P&L, manage stock, ensure health and safety, and build strong client relationships while delivering tasty meals on a Monday–Friday pattern.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a Chef Manager or Catering Manager role.
• Experience leading a small team with people and HR responsibilities.
• Good 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 with a quality food offer.
• Excellent knowledge of Health & Safety, food safety and allergen compliance.

Responsibilities

• Managing day-to-day catering and site operations for a smooth service.
• Hands-on preparation and serving of breakfast and lunch.
• Leading, supporting and developing a small team, including HR tasks.
• Managing stock control, ordering, stocktakes and cost control to minimise waste.
• Taking full P&L responsibility and monitoring financial performance.
• Building and maintaining strong client relationships.
• Ensuring health & safety, food safety and allergen compliance.
• Overseeing vending operations and ensuring a positive customer experience.
• Identifying opportunities to improve the offer and engagement on site.
• Ensuring adherence to contractual and company standards.

Skills

Catering management

People management

HR responsibilities

Stock control

P&L management

Food safety

Client relationships

Communication

Organisational skills

Decision making

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.