Duty Chef

Manchester Arndale; Leatherhead; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

OCS Academy Digital Learning

Hapi app discounts

Wagestream access

Job summary

OCS UK & Ireland is seeking an experienced Catering Chef for a busy restaurant on a TFM site in Leatherhead. You will lead food preparation, presentation and ensure high standards of hospitality across the team, while complying with health and safety rules and cost controls.

The role requires a qualified chef with flair, a proactive attitude, and strong customer focus. You may cover other OCS sites as needed, with flexible shifts on a front-of-house/back-of-house operation.

Qualifications

• Must be a qualified chef with flair and imagination.
• Be proactive at all times.
• Customer focused is a must.
• Must have a full understanding of cost control.
• Basic food hygiene level 2
• Intermediate Food Hygiene desirable
• Previous Contract Catering experience desirable

Responsibilities

• Ensure food is produced to specification and presented to company standard.
• Maintain due diligence records and compliance with health and safety requirements, including notices, first aid and accident reporting.
• Adhere to company policy on dealing with customer comments.
• Ensure customers always receive prompt and courteous service.
• Maintain high personal appearance, including uniform, to company standards.
• Control food percentages and costs to match targets.
• Possible deployment to other OCS sites as needed.
• Ensure cleaning rotas are adhered to.
• Maintain good staff morale and retention.
• Display positive client feedback and high kitchen performance.
• Accurately cost recipes and assist in menu planning.
• Lead by example with high standards.

Skills

Team player

Initiative

Computer literacy

Flexibility

Proactive

Customer focus

Cost control understanding

Can-do attitude

Food hygiene knowledge

Education

Basic food hygiene level 2

Intermediate Food Hygiene desirable

Previous contract catering experience desirable

Job description

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)

About The Role:

Working Pattern

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 7am to 3pm
Friday 6.30an to 2.30pm

To report into the Catering Manager Chef and the facilities Manager. To assist in delivering a high standard in the restaurant to help promote innovation and promote new ideas to assist in the delivery of a high standard of Hospitality working in a very friendly TFM site.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure that food is produced to specification and presented to company standard Ensure due diligence records are completed and maintained
• To always comply with client, company and legal requirements such as health and safety, ensuring the display of notices, first aid and accident reporting this is to be for KBR Leatherhead
• Adhere to company policy on dealing with customer comments
• Ensure the customers always receive a prompt and courteous service.
• Ensure personal appearance, including uniform are always of the highest standards in line with company policy
• Ensure food percentage targets are met and food costs correctly achieved
• Possible that will be used for duty in other OCS site as and when needed
• Ensure Cleaning rotas are adhered to
• Maintain good staff morale and retention
• Positive client feedback
• Able to display a high degree of skill in food preparation and presentation in all areas.
• Ensure temperature records and due diligence are maintained daily and accurately
• Assist in accurately costing recipes and menu planning
• Control portion sizes and wastage
• Use good communication skills to maximise efficiently of team
• Display knowledge and ability to actively encourage and develop all team members including Front of House
• To perform any other duty which may be reasonably required by your line manager or the company
• To lead by example while setting high standards

Qualifications, Skills & Experience:

• A good team player. Excellent personnel management skills
• The ability to work using their own imitative.
• Computer literate (Desirable)
• Must be flexible & adaptable
• Be proactive at all times
• Customer focused is a must
• Must have a full understanding of cost control
• Must be a qualified chef with flair and imagination.
• A can-do attitude and willing to go the extra mile
• Basic food hygiene level 2
• Intermediate Food Hygiene desirable
• Previous Contract Catering experience is desirable

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.