Chef Manager – London, LONDON

Holroyd Howe; City Of London; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading contract caterer in the UK seeks a Chef Manager to oversee dining services in West London. The role involves menu planning, team leadership, and ensuring high-quality food preparation with a focus on fresh ingredients. Ideal candidates will have significant experience in contract catering and a passion for innovative culinary practices. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in education catering while leading a dedicated kitchen team.

Benefits

28 days holiday

Enhanced maternity leave

Bespoke training opportunities

Pension and life insurance

Employee wellbeing programme

Free meals on shift

Qualifications

• Proven experience in contract catering or high-end education settings.
• Hands-on leadership skills with a strong focus on quality.
• Knowledge of allergen management and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Deliver exceptional dining experiences for students and staff.
• Lead and develop the kitchen team effectively.
• Manage stock, ordering, and compliance in the kitchen.

Skills

Team leadership

Menu planning

Food safety knowledge

Cost control

Fresh ingredient focus

Education

Level 3 Food Safety Certificate

Culinary Qualification (e.g., NVQ Level 2/3)

Job description

Overview

Chef Manager – London, LONDON

Job Title: Chef Manager – Monday – Friday
Location: West London
Salary: £45,000 per annum

Benefits

• 28 days holiday, including bank holidays
• 3 volunteering days and 3 days grandparent leave
• 24 weeks’ enhanced maternity leave
• Bespoke training and development opportunities
• Pension and life insurance
• Discounts via the HAPI app (high street shops, holidays, cinema)
• Wellbeing hub and access to an employee assistance programme
• Free meals on shift
• Career development opportunities, including HIT Apprenticeships

We have an exciting opportunity for a Chef Manager to lead the catering team at a prestigious independent school in West London. This role offers the chance to deliver exceptional food and dining experiences, catering for both pupils and staff while overseeing all aspects of the kitchen operation.

As Chef Manager, you will be responsible for menu planning, stock control, compliance, team leadership, and driving food innovation. With a strong focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients and high-quality service, this role is perfect for a hands-on leader passionate about nurturing young minds through great food.

This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real impact in education catering, setting new standards and leading a dedicated team in a dynamic and rewarding environment.

Job Description

As our next Chef Manager, you will be responsible for:

• Delivering exceptional dining experiences for students, staff, and events
• Leading and developing a talented kitchen team
• Creating seasonal, nutritious, and innovative menus
• Managing stock, ordering, and kitchen compliance
• Overseeing hospitality catering, including fine dining and special events

This is a fantastic opportunity for a hands-on leader with a passion for fresh, high-quality food to drive standards, inspire a team, and elevate the dining experience. If you are ready to bring your creativity and leadership to this exciting role, we’d love to hear from you!

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Chef Manager or Senior Sous Chef in contract catering, hospitality, or high-end education settings
• Strong background in menu planning, team leadership, and delivering exceptional food quality
• A passion for fresh, seasonal ingredients and high standards of food presentation
• Level 3 Food Safety Certificate (or willingness to obtain)
• Excellent team management and leadership skills with a hands-on approach
• Ability to work under pressure while maintaining quality and efficiency
• Strong knowledge of cost control, stock management, and compliance
• Experience in allergen management and dietary requirements compliance
• A relevant Culinary Qualification (e.g., NVQ Level 2/3, City & Guilds, or equivalent) is desirable but not essential

Additional Information

Holroyd Howe is one of the UK’s leading contract caterers, providing fresh innovative food services solely to independent schools and colleges. We are a team of experienced professionals who tailor our catering service provision specifically to suit children of all ages in order to meet the bespoke requirements of each school.

To provide our teams with the right skills to succeed in their jobs, we invest in their training and development. Our exceptional teams of seasoned specialists customise our catering services to fit children of all ages and satisfy the unique needs of our clients.

We pride ourselves on:

Sustainability

Sustainability is at the heart of our thinking; always mindful of the ethics of our sourcing and how we prepare our meals.

Nutrition

We take nutrition seriously and understand the impact a healthy diet has on the fundamental years of development. Meals are always freshly prepared from scratch and packed with nutritious ingredients.

Food Innovation

We offer a wide portfolio of training opportunities and experiences, which attracts chefs who are passionate about culinary excellence and menu innovation to our team.

From tasting tables, theme days and food theatre, to chef demonstrations and supplier showcases, we create engaging and fun dining experiences for our students. We work together to make mealtimes exploratory, quirky, and fun for our pupils, helping them build strong and healthy relationships with food.

“Holroyd Howe is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all employees to share this commitment. All roles within Holroyd Howe are regarded as regulated activity, it is an offence to apply for a role in regulated activity if you are barred from working with children, therefore we will require an Enhanced DBS which includes a Barred List check for all successful applicants. We will also require shortlisted applicants to provide appropriate information regarding any criminal offences and shortlisted applicants will be subject to an online search of public available information on suitability to work with children.”

This appointment is offered on the return of satisfactory professional references.

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