Chef Manager: Lead Kitchen, Clients & P&L

Equipment Sales & Service Limited.; Preston; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Culinary pathways and mentoring

Job summary

Equipment Sales & Service Limited. is seeking a hands-on Chef Manager who can lead the catering operation with vision and commercial acumen. You will own menu planning, team leadership, client relationships, budgets, compliance, and service delivery, cooking with passion and driving high standards.

You will oversee breakfast and lunch service windows, build strong client partnerships, and mentor a team to consistently deliver delicious, high-quality meals while managing costs and KPIs.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a catering operation or kitchen team.
• Strong understanding of food safety and health & safety standards.
• Proven ability to manage budgets, costs and margins.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the full catering operation from food to finance to front of house.
• Lead, develop and motivate your team to deliver excellent service every day.
• Managing food costs, margins, waste and labour with commercial precision.
• Build strong relationships with our clients and guests, exceeding expectations.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, health & safety and company standards at all times.
• Drive consistency and quality across the kitchen and wider catering operation.
• Proven experience as a Chef Manager or Head Chef with strong operational experience.
• A passion for fresh food, seasonal ingredients, and high-quality service delivery.
• Great communication and leadership skills, you inspire others with your energy.
• A strong sense of ownership and ability to manage client relationships.
• Strong financial acumen. You understand P&L, cost control, and business KPIs.
• Excellent communication and people management skills. You build trust, lead by example, and bring out the best in your team.

Skills

Leadership

P&L

Cost control

Team management

Food safety

Communication

Tools

Kitchen operations

Job description

Equipment Sales & Service Limited. is seeking a hands-on Chef Manager who can lead the catering operation with vision and commercial acumen. You will own menu planning, team leadership, client relationships, budgets, compliance, and service delivery, cooking with passion and driving high standards.

You will oversee breakfast and lunch service windows, build strong client partnerships, and mentor a team to consistently deliver delicious, high-quality meals while managing costs and KPIs.