Chef Manager, Reading

Bartlett Mitchell; Thatcham; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Birthday day off

Michelin-starred chef masterclasses

Fully funded development courses (L2-L

Job summary

Bartlett Mitchell is hiring a Chef Manager to lead on-site catering operations at our contract site in Thatcham. You will manage a kitchen team, liaise with clients, recruit and train staff, and ensure high service standards with innovative menus.

You will control budgets, produce weekly reports, monitor stock, and strive to meet GP targets while maintaining compliance with food safety and COSHH requirements. The role requires strong planning and leadership to drive results.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to lead and develop kitchen teams.
• Experience managing catering operations and client relationships.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, hygiene, and COSHH requirements.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily kitchen operations and contract site management.
• Recruit, train and motivate kitchen team and front-of-house staff.
• Manage budgets, weekly reports, stock counts, and GP targets.
• Forecast menus and ensure innovative, balanced menus aligned with client expectations.

Skills

Team leadership

Budgeting

Food safety management

Menu planning

Communication skills

Education

City & Guilds 7061/7062

NVQ or equivalent

Food Safety Level 3

Job description

We're a multi award-winning contract catering company, with a team of trained foodies serving over 45,500 satisfied customers every day. We now have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Chef Manager to join our team.

This is a Chef Manager position to work 5 days out of 7 days (40 hours per week).

This is a management role so you will be responsible for the running of the contract, liaising with the client to make sure that all of the customers enjoy the food and service at site, and you will be responsible for recruiting, training and motivating your team.

You will also be expected to manage the budget, complete various weekly reports and stock counts, as well as ensuring that you and your team achieve GP and budgets every week. This will require good planning and organising skills, in-depth knowledge of contract catering so that you can forecast accurately, plus the drive and commitment to deliver innovative food and service each and every day - something which sets bartlett mitchell apart from other contract caterers.

We know that you will be proud of your standards in hygiene, food safety and compliance. You will want to brief your teams, support your team and find new ways of bringing our fundamentally foodies values into the site. You will be a great manager and chef who can produce outstanding food - you'll be inspired by the ingredients you work with to create seasonal, balanced and nutritious menus.

Being a part of our culture of learning is important here at bartlett mitchell. That's why you'll attend our forums andAcademy workshops to keep up-to-date with food innovation. Being in the kitchen regularly doesn't mean you won't see your customers. We expect you to interact regularly with the people who enjoy our food - to measure success and gain inspiration for new ideas and to maximise sales with our concepts and innovations. Ideally you will be educated to a City & Guilds 706 1 and 2, NVQ or have equivalentskills and experience andhold a Food Safety qualification at Level 3 as a minimum, with Health Safety at Level 2. You must also have an excellent knowledge of Food Safety Management System requirements as well as COSHH.

Our benefits include:

• An annual day off for your birthday!
• Monthly masterclasses with Michelin-starred chefs.
• Fully funded development courses ranging from levels 2 to 7.
• Discounts and cashback at a wide variety of retail and leisure outlets.
• Cycle-to-work scheme.
• Freedom Friday - a paid day off to volunteer at a charity of your choice.
• Free lunch every workday!
• 24/7 access to the Mental Health Charter App.
• Enhanced parental leave benefits.
• Paid leave for fertility treatments.
• Grandparent leave to support your loved ones with their new arrival.

Explore all benefits and more by visiting BM Caterers website

Location: Enterprise Way, Thatcham, RG19 4BQ