Chef Manager - Preston

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

We're looking for a Chef Manager who can do more than cook. This is a role for a hands-on leader who's as confident at the stove as they are in a client meeting, someone who understands how to run a business, manage a team, and deliver food that delights. As the heartbeat of the site, you'll oversee every aspect of the catering operation, from menu planning and team leadership to client relationships, budgets, compliance, and service delivery. You'll cook with passion, lead with purpose, and run the outlet like it's your own.

Services

• Breakfast and Lunch service between 8:15am and 1:30pm
• Hospitality
• Retail

What You'll Be Doing:

• 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. Understanding their needs, exceeding expectations and delivering service with an impact.
• 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.

Benefits

• Hungry for more? We also offer exciting culinary pathways for team members who want to level up. With real-time mentoring, hands-on experience, and the chance to earn recognised qualifications, it's a delicious way to grow your skills while doing what you love.