Executive Chef Manager

Thomas Franks; Milton Keynes, Thornton; Remote; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free meals on duty

Cycle to work scheme

Workplace pension

Excellent career progression

Job summary

Thomas Franks is seeking an Executive Chef Manager for one of our prestigious locations near Milton Keynes. You will lead a fast-paced kitchen as Head Chef, creating bespoke menus with seasonal ingredients and ensuring top quality service for boarding school meals and events.

The role requires strong hygiene standards, staff training, and close collaboration with suppliers. This full-time position runs 5 over 7 days to cover core service periods, with a competitive salary up to £50,000 per year.

Qualifications

• Experience as Head Chef in fast-paced kitchens.
• Experience in contract catering or independent education.
• Ability to design menus using seasonal ingredients.
• Commitment to high standards of hygiene and safety.

Responsibilities

• Operate and control food production to high standards per Thomas Franks guidelines.
• Ensure Fresh Food standards and locally sourced produce are used.
• Devise nutritious menus for daily service and events.
• Ensure timely service and stock management during service periods.
• Maintain hygienic production and service areas per health & safety laws.
• Lead and train staff to adhere to procedures and hygiene rules.
• Keep front of house informed of food availability and delays.
• Assist in planning menus, rotas and placing orders.
• Ensure kitchen compliance with health and safety regulations.
• Attend meetings and training courses as required.

Skills

Head Chef level

Menu creation

Team leadership

Food safety

Kitchen management

Seasonal ingredients

Contract catering

Education

City & Guild 706/1

Job description

Contract: Full Time , Permanent
Salary: Up to £ 50,000 per annum
Hours: 40 per week

A leading independent day and boarding school for girls just outside of Milton Keynes. Catering for about 450 students and teachers daily. We offer a core feeding of Breakfast & Dinner for about 50 boarders and Lunch for the whole school. As this is a boarding school it operates 7 days a week so shift patterns will be 5 over 7 days.

We are looking for a talented Executive Chef Manager to join our team at one of our prestigious locations in Thornton.

You will have previous experience of working within a fast-paced kitchen at Head Chef level (ideally within either contract catering - B&I or Independent Education).

You will be excited to work with fresh seasonal ingredients & regularly changing bespoke menus which YOU create! You will be creative and have the opportunity to showcase your skillset every day.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS (TASKS & RESPONSIBILTIES):

• To operate, monitor and control the Food Production and Service Production to ensure that the food is produced and presented to the highest possible standards, according to the stated Thomas Franks standards and all specified client requirements.
• Responsible for ensuring that the Thomas Franks Fresh Food standards are adhered to by all members of staff, making the best use of local, sustainably sourced and in-season produce at all times using the Company approved suppliers.
• Ensure that the menus are planned are devised for their nutritional value, making the best use of current food styles and customer expectations for daily service and any functions, hospitality or special events.
• Ensure the prompt service of all meals and service at all times to the company / clients standards. Restock and replenish stocks and consumables as required during service periods, pre-empt customer needs and achieve optimum customer service delivery.
• The Executive Head Chef must ensure that all production, storage and service areas and equipment are maintained in a hygienic and clean condition, demonstrating a thorough understanding of food safety and health and safety legislation on a daily basis. Practices are to be monitored and reviewed frequently to ensure standards are set and maintained effectively.
• Ensure that the preparation of all food for sale/service is to prepared within exemplary standards of hygiene and food safety, ensuring that all members of subordinate members of staff adhere to these procedures on health, safety and hygiene to at all times.
• Keep the Front of house informed of any food running out and pre-empt any delays in customer waiting.
• To assist in the preparation of planning menus, rotas, placing of orders.
• Ensure that the kitchen operates in line with current health & safety regulations.
• To attend meetings and training courses as required.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensure attendance to all staff meetings as required.
• Ensure that all policies and procedural requirements of both legislation and company are adhered to in order to promote a professional and flexible approach at all times.
• To ensure personal presentation is of the highest standard at all times.
• Ensure all necessary checks are carried out in the service and associated areas for food temperatures.
• Carry out all reasonable request of the management.

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

• Team working abilities, Listening skills, the ability to work on own initiative, impeccable personal presentation, hygiene and behaviour to others, Food hygiene certificate preferred.
• The ability to be adaptable and be flexible as necessary. Reliable, Honest and able to demonstrate an open attentive approach to customer service.
• Willingness to learn new skills and take some responsibility.
• Ability to demonstrate a good understanding and use of verbal English.
• Ability to demonstrate a good standard of written English and reading skills.
• Similar experience of customer and / or food preparation environment is essential.
• Hold a recognised cooking qualification such as City & Guild 706/1 & 2 or equivalent.

• Wider wallet scheme (discounts at major retailers, restaurants, gyms etc).
• Free meals on duty
• Volunteers leave – up to one day per year.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoptive leave.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Recommend a friend bonus.
• Unrivalled individual training and development.
• Well established apprenticeship programme.
• Team & company social events.
• Employee assistance programme.
• Workplace pension.
• Excellent career progression within a leading independent contract caterer.

About us

Thomas Franks is a founder led, fresh food catering business with a focus on excellence and service delivered with individuality, passion and style. We are unique in every approach and our clients, and our people are paramount to our daily success.

Disclaimer

All applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have the Right to Work in the UK to be considered for this role.

An enhanced DBS, Identity & reference checks (covering the last five years) will form part of the selection process. As an organisation using the Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) Disclosure service to assess applicants’ suitability for positions of trust, Thomas Franks Ltd complies fully with the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes to treat all applicants for positions fairly. We are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and undertake not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure based on conviction or other information revealed. However, for any post in a school please be aware that any application is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such any criminal conviction, caution or bind‑over must be declared.

Diversity and Inclusion at Thomas Franks

We actively encourage applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds and continue to develop a culture of growth and inclusion and would like to invite applications from groups who are currently under‑represented, because we believe greater diversity leads to exceptional results and provides a better working life.