Chef Supervisor

OCS; Bedford; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Award-Winning Employer

Digital Learning

Retail Perks

Professional Growth

Flexible Pay

Job summary

OCS UK & Ireland is seeking a dedicated night-shift chef to support senior teams and manage station cooking, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality dishes. The role emphasizes strong safety, hygiene, and teamwork within a contract catering environment.

You will lead on cooking at your station, handle responsibilities when seniors are away, and coordinate with the broader culinary team to maintain standards across shifts. Right to work in the UK and relevant qualifications are required.

Qualifications

• Must have Level 2 in Catering and Hospitality or equivalent.
• Desirable Level 2 Food Hygiene training and related certifications.
• Strong knowledge of food preparation methods and kitchen equipment.
• Proven ability to lead and multitask in a busy kitchen.

Responsibilities

• Support day-to-day food preparation in absence of senior chef.
• Manage cooking process at station to deliver timely dishes.
• Ensure safety and hygiene; proper use of utensils and equipment.
• Monitor inventory; keep kitchen stocked with fresh ingredients.
• Collaborate with culinary team to maintain high-quality food and service.

Skills

Leadership

Teamwork

Time management

Communication

Multitasking

Customer service

Safety awareness

Food knowledge

Education

Level 2 in Catering and Hospitality

City & Guilds / NVQ / BTEC equivalent

Food hygiene Level 2

Tools

Excel

Job description

Key responsibilities

• In the absence of the senior chef, candidates will support and handle day-to-day food preparation and duties assigned by senior chefs to meet the sites standards and quality
• You will need to be able to manage the cooking process at their specific station of several dishes, ensuring that the food is delivered in a timely manner
• Be responsible for safety, hygiene, and correct use of department utensils and equipment on site always
• Notify Senior Chefs of inventory when running low by ensuring that the kitchen remains adequately stocked with fresh ingredients and catering necessities
• Work with the rest of the culinary team to ensure high-quality food and service is maintained throughout the shift

About The Role

Working Pattern

23:00-04:30

Night shifts

Key responsibilities

• In the absence of the senior chef, candidates will support and handle day-to-day food preparation and duties assigned by senior chefs to meet the sites standards and quality
• You will need to be able to manage the cooking process at their specific station of several dishes, ensuring that the food is delivered in a timely manner
• Be responsible for safety, hygiene, and correct use of department utensils and equipment on site always
• Notify Senior Chefs of inventory when running low by ensuring that the kitchen remains adequately stocked with fresh ingredients and catering necessities
• Work with the rest of the culinary team to ensure high-quality food and service is maintained throughout the shift

What are we looking for?

• Proven experience as a Chef role is desired. Candidates should have experience working in a similar role within contract catering
• Candidates need to possess a Level 2 in Catering and Hospitality or equivalent
• Excellent use of various cooking methods, ingredients, equipment and processes is essential. Candidates should also have the ability to multitask and work efficiently under pressure
• Ability to work well in a team is crucial. Candidates should have excellent listening and communication skills
• Knowledge of best practices for safety and sanitation is important. They should understand the standard legal policies and procedures regarding receiving, preparation, storage and sanitation of food and the menu items fully, including the recipes, production and presentation methods

The ideal candidate should meet the following criteria

• Must have the Right to Work in the UK
• City & Guilds certification, BTEC, or NVQ at a basic level is require
• Additionally, completing a food hygiene course at Level 2 would be desirable
• Customer Service Skills: Excellent customer service skills are essential
• Organisational Skills: Good time-management and organisational abilities
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage teams effectively
• Ability to handle different situations and find practical solutions
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills
• Good time-management and organisational abilities
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information
• Competent with Microsoft Office tools, especially Excel

Hiring Criteria

• Demonstrate the ability to lead and manage teams effectively
• Have an understanding of financial management, budgeting, and cost control

About The Company

OCS UK & Ireland is a leading facilities management company with 50,000+ colleagues and a turnover in excess of £2bn. We deliver innovative, award-winning services within facilities management, hard services, cleaning, security and catering.

Our mission is to make people and places the best they can be for our colleagues, customers and the communities we serve.

Our commitment to doing business the right way is rooted in our TRUE values - Trust, Respect, Unity, and Empowerment.

Why Work for OCS

• Award-Winning Employer: Ranked 36th on Glassdoor’s Best Companies to Work For 2025 — we value and motivate our people.
• Digital Learning: The OCS Academy offers digital courses and resources to help you build skills and grow your career.
• Retail Perks: With our Hapi app, you can gain access to exclusive discounts, rewards and wellbeing resources.
• Professional Growth: 600+ live learners across UK&I — Empowering colleagues with further development and qualifications!
• Flexible Pay: Access a portion of earned wages before payday with our Wagestream App! (Contract Specific)

We are an equal opportunities employer and rely on a diverse workforce with a broad range of knowledge, skills, and backgrounds to deliver our goals. We offer an inclusive and welcoming environment and actively encourage applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or age.