Head Chef

Parkdean Resorts; Louth; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Programme

Holiday discounts for staff

Team member discount on park services

Training and development opportunities

Brand partnerships and lifestyle perks

Job summary

Parkdean Resorts is seeking an inspiring Head Chef to lead a busy, high-volume kitchen across its UK locations. You will drive exceptional food quality, manage stock and budgets, and develop a talented kitchen team while upholding the highest food safety standards.

Your commercially minded leadership will set the tone for efficient, profitable operations. You will recruit, train and motivate staff, design menus with portion control, monitor KPIs and costs, and ensure compliance with health and

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading a kitchen team in a high-pressure, high-volume environment.
• Strong commercial awareness with budgets, KPIs and profitability focus.
• Ability to train, inspire and develop a productive kitchen culture.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and develop the kitchen team to high standards and performance.
• Ensure exceptional food quality, presentation and service at all times.
• Oversee food diaries, health and safety documentation, stock control and training.
• Plan, design and deliver menus with portion control and profitability in mind.
• Monitor waste, efficiency and food costs; ensure compliance with hygiene standards.
• Support recruitment, induction and ongoing development of the team.
• Maintain a clean, safe kitchen environment and report any issues.

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Budget management

High-volume kitchen

Food safety

Staff development

Menu design

Job description

At Parkdean Resorts, we're searching for an inspiring Head Chef to take charge of our busy, high volume kitchen. This is a fantastic opportunity for a passionate and commercially minded culinary leader to deliver exceptional food, drive operational performance, and develop a talented team.

As Head Chef, you'll oversee the smooth and efficient running of the kitchen, ensuring every dish exceeds guest expectations. You'll lead and motivate your team, manage stock and budgets, maintain the highest standards of food safety, and make smart commercial decisions that support profitability and performance. Your leadership will set the tone for the entire kitchen operation.

What you will be doing...

• Leading, motivating, and developing your kitchen team to achieve high standards and strong performance.
• Ensuring exceptional food quality, presentation, and service at all times.
• Overseeing kitchen management tasks such as food diaries, health & safety documentation, stock control, and training.
• Planning, designing, and delivering menus that follow portion control guidelines and maximise profitability.
• Monitoring key performance metrics, including waste levels, efficiency, and food costs.
• Ensuring full compliance with food hygiene, health & safety, and regulatory standards.
• Supporting team recruitment, induction, and ongoing development.
• Maintaining a clean, organised, and safe kitchen environment at all times.
• Reporting any suspected weaknesses or breaches in company information systems.
• Upholding safeguarding responsibilities and helping maintain a safe environment for guests, colleagues, and visitors.

About you...

• Proven experience managing and leading a kitchen team in a high pressure environment.
• Strong commercial awareness and confidence working with budgets, KPIs, and financial targets.
• The ability to train, inspire, and develop a team, creating a positive and productive culture.
• Experience working in fast-paced, high-volume kitchens.
• A passion for producing high quality, innovative food that enhances guest satisfaction.
• Excellent organisational, planning, and communication skills.
• Flexibility to work a variety of shifts, including evenings, weekends, and bank holidays.

So, why Parkdean Resorts?

Well, besides the one-of-a-kind team culture, stunning locations across the UK, and the chance to work with the UK's largest holiday park organisation, we can offer:

• The chance to develop your skills and boost your career across our 65 parks - we've got your back when it comes to training!
• You're never on your own with our Employee Assistance Programme! It comes with a 24/7 confidential helpline for counselling and support - because your wellbeing is our top priority.
• A 50% discount for you and a 25% discount for friends and family when booking your holiday with us.
• A team member discount of 30%, available on everything from fabulous food to delicious drinks and even our fun leisure activities.
• Score awesome discounts! From tasty meal kits like Hello Fresh to your favourite local gyms, we've got deals on lots of brands just for you.

We want to be a force for good and caring for our parks, people, and planet is a natural component of the way we do business. We celebrate our people, communities and natural environment, enabling us to enhance the amazing memories we create for many years to come.

Are we the right fit for you?

At Parkdean Resorts, every park is a place to start something great; a place where you can develop your skills, take on new challenges, and thrive alongside a team that supports you every step of the way.

Our parks create meaningful memories for our guests and know that great service is more than a smile - it's understanding the value of every moment. Because it's not just what we do, it's who we are. Join a team that puts heart into every holiday. Be the Heart of the Park.

Parkdean Resorts takes safeguarding seriously therefore background checks including DBS (or equivalent) will be carried out if appropriate.

We want to do all we can to create an environment and recruitment process where people feel safe and comfortable to talk about disability. For any reasonable adjustment requests as part of the recruitment and assessment process, please contact Roisin at [e-mail].