Head Chef

Saputo, Inc.; Hawes; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free onsite parking

Health cash plan

Employer pension contributions

Thrive wellbeing app

Staff discount on Saputo products

Volunteer day

Job summary

Saputo Dairy UK offers an ambitious Head Chef opportunity at our Visitor Centre in the Yorkshire Dales. You will lead a creative team, delivering menus that celebrate local produce and Yorkshire cheeses, while upholding quality and budget targets.

You’ll manage daily kitchen operations, mentor staff, develop new products, and contribute to marketing events to ensure an outstanding guest experience. Five days per week with weekends off and onsite parking.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years' experience as Head Chef in fast-paced kitchens.
• Proven ability to lead and develop a team.
• Strong focus on quality, hygiene, and cost control.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day kitchen operations and ensure high standards.
• Develop menus and recipes using local produce.
• Oversee food costs, portion control, and budgets.
• Train and develop kitchen staff and maintain safety standards.

Skills

Team leadership

Menu development

Budget management

HACCP knowledge

Local produce sourcing

Job description

At Saputo, we bring good to the table by making high-quality products, investing in our people, and supporting communities around the world. As a top 10 global dairy processor, we value contributions that matter and strive to foster an inclusive, growth-driven work environment. Ready to bring your best?

Head Chef Hawes, Yorkshire Dales 5 days over 7 with alternate weekends off 8.30am to 5pm (4pm in Winter) No evenings / No split shifts We close Christmas Day, Boxing Day & New Years Day

ABOUT SAPUTO

As a local Wensleydale, the Saputo Dairy UK brands include Cathedral City cheese, butters and spreads such as Clover, Country Life, Vitalite and Utterly Butterly and other dairy ingredients.

ABOUT OUR VISITOR CENTRE

The award-winning visitor experience centre is continually evolving its restaurant, coffee shop, cheese shop, retail shop and visitor attraction. We attract a diverse range of visitors all year round.

ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY

We’re looking for an ambitious, creative Head Chef with an eye for detail and a passion for locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. At our award-winning Visitor Centre in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, you’ll create inspiring menus that showcase our cheeses and celebrate the best local produce. You’ll join a passionate, creative team committed to quality and continuous improvement. This is a hands‑on role for an experienced Head Chef who can lead and develop a team, thrive in a fast‑paced kitchen and consistently deliver high standards. Working with the senior management team, you’ll oversee smooth kitchen operations, develop new products and menus, and deliver agreed margins and budgets. You’ll create an outstanding guest experience while motivating your team and building a positive, energetic kitchen culture. You’ll lead the day‑to‑day running of our kitchens, creating an exceptional catering offer using Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese and seasonal local produce, while maintaining high standards, budgets and health and safety compliance.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS OPPORTUNTY

• No split shifts or nights,
• every other weekend off,
• Christmas, Boxing Day & New Years Day off,
• Working with delicious local produce, and freshly making every dish,
• Fantastic opportunity for creativity, innovation, and progression,
• A modern professional kitchen with the latest equipment,
• Working with an amazing team, in an environment where everyone is passionate about our brand

YOU'LL MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT MATTER BY

• Being aware of current market trends
• Working in conjunction with the management team to develop menus, products and packages
• Supporting the development of special events and marketing promotional calendar
• Setting standardised recipes for the whole team to follow
• Ensuring quality standards are maintained throughout service by the whole team
• Ensuring strict portion control is always adhered to by the team
• Issuing tasks to the team
• Ensuring the relevant food offers are ready for business by the allocated time
• Dealing with Customer Complaints in a professional proactive manner
• Communicating Customer feedback to the team daily
• Completing weekly rotas in line with VC budget and business requirements
• Ensuring adequate stock levels are maintained to support the business
• Ensuring company GP targets are achieved
• Adhering to and auditing all HACCP / H&S / procedural requirements
• Maintaining exceptional cleaning standards
• Supporting the VC Director with compilation of departmental budgets
• Providing menu costings for all dishes and updating market price increases as required
• Submitting Purchase Orders / Invoices / delivery notes to the VC administrator as per company procedure
• Identifying margin opportunities
• Running stock take in line with company procedure
• Ensuring appropriate security of stock
• Locking up facilities in line with Company security instructions
• Supporting team recruitment activities as required
• Inducting all new kitchen staff members
• Developing the kitchen team
• Delivering appropriate training in line with the training plan
• Ensuring clear communication with the catering team
• Acting as a role model, demonstrating company values and inspiring the team with enthusiasm and professionalism
• Managing team holiday requests with the Operations Manager

YOU'RE BEST SUITED TO THIS ROLE IF YOU

• Have a minimum of 2 years experience at Head Chef level, working in a similar fast paced environment
• Are results driven
• Lead people towards the company vision, goals and agreed targets
• Communicate effectively
• Build and maintain relationships
• Manage conflict and crisis
• Act decisivelyDemonstrate resilience and flexibility
• Pay good attention to detail
• Drive change
• Work on your own initiative
• Think systematically and inspire continuous improvement
• Contribute your own views and listen to the views of others

WE SUPPORT AND CARE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES BY PROVIDING YOU WITH

• Working 5 days per week out of 7 with every other weekend off
• Inclusive working environment
• Opportunities for progression
• Employer pension contributions
• Health cash plan
• Access to the Thrive wellbeing app 24-hours a day
• Discounted SDUK branded products
• Free, onsite parking
• 25 holidays + 8 bank holidays
• One paid workday a year to volunteer for a local community or charitable institutions of your choice
• My Staff Shop - access to exclusive benefits, free advice and savings - providing great discounts from thousands of the UKs largest retailers & service providers

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION AT SAPUTO

We support employment equity. Saputo strives to embed diversity and inclusion in its operations and invites candidates from all horizons to join our team. To enable you to bring your best we will ensure you are provided with any physical or non-physical adjustments to support your participation in the job application and interview process.

Agencies - Thank you for your interest in working with Saputo Dairy UK. We do not pay fees or acknowledge any CV’s supplied to Saputo Dairy UK unless you have been briefed on the role by a member of the Talent Acquisition Team.

#SDUK2026 In the UK, Saputo is a producer of leading British food brands and value-added ingredients. We manufacture a range of cheeses, dairy spreads, and dairy-free products, with a portfolio of well-loved brands including Cathedral City, Clover, Country Life, Frylight and Wensleydale. Whether your expertise lies in manufacturing, operations, supply chain, sales, quality assurance, or in any other function, your role is integral to our success. You will make contributions that matter, all while working alongside colleagues who genuinely care about your success and who will roll up their sleeves to help. Making Good Food Is Our Passion, and we do it responsibly. Our caring teams process about 10 billion litres of milk annually into a diversified range of dairy and dairy alternative products sold in over 50 countries. With 54 manufacturing facilities and over 18,100 employees, we operate our leading business in Canada, the USA, Australia, and the United Kingdom. All dairy processors have access to the same raw material and equipment; what distinguishes us is our can‑do spirit and our diverse, inclusive work culture that empowers employees to grow in their own way. Stay in touch! Follow the hashtag #OurBestIsMadeOfYours on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.