Head Chef

Mansell Consulting Group Ltd; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading culinary services firm in Gateshead is seeking an experienced Head Chef / Kitchen Manager to lead their flagship store in Newcastle. You'll manage the kitchen team, ensuring exceptional food quality and compliance while overseeing operations such as rotas, budgeting, and supplier management. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in high-volume catering, leadership skills, and a creative approach to menu development. This is a key position aimed at maintaining high standards of cleanliness and service.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior kitchen leadership role (Head/Exec Chef level) within luxury or high-volume catering.
• Strong leadership skills with a calm, collaborative management style.
• Commercially astute, confident in budgets, GP, planning, and supplier management.
• Creative in menu development, with a passion for quality, presentation, and sustainability.
• Highly organised and adaptable, thriving under pressure while maintaining exceptional standards.
• Excellent communicator and team player with a forward-thinking, innovative approach.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and inspire the kitchen team to deliver consistently high-quality dishes.
• Oversee all kitchen operations, ensuring food quality, safety, and compliance at scale.
• Manage rotas, costing, budgets, and supplier relationships to maximise efficiency and profitability.
• Drive menu development, seasonal planning, and innovative culinary concepts.
• Collaborate with client-facing teams to deliver outstanding dining experiences.
• Champion high standards of cleanliness, organisation, and professionalism.

Skills

Leadership skills

Menu development

Budget management

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Job description

Head Chef / Kitchen Manager - Newcastle upon Tyne Flagship Store

MCG are delighted to be supporting our clients to find the perfect kitchen leader to head up our client's flagship site in Newcastle. You'll manage and motivate the chef team, oversee rotas, training, and compliance, and ensure dishes are delivered to the highest standard, on time, every time. With strong leadership and commercial awareness, you'll keep operations running smoothly while maintaining exceptional food quality, safety, and cleanliness.

About You

• Proven experience in a senior kitchen leadership role (Head/Exec Chef level) within luxury or high-volume catering.
• Strong leadership skills with a calm, collaborative management style.
• Commercially astute, confident in budgets, GP, planning, and supplier management.
• Creative in menu development, with a passion for quality, presentation, and sustainability.
• Highly organised and adaptable, thriving under pressure while maintaining exceptional standards.
• Excellent communicator and team player with a forward-thinking, innovative approach.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and inspire the kitchen team to deliver consistently high-quality dishes.
• Oversee all kitchen operations, ensuring food quality, safety, and compliance at scale.
• Manage rotas, costing, budgets, and supplier relationships to maximise efficiency and profitability.
• Drive menu development, seasonal planning, and innovative culinary concepts.
• Collaborate with client-facing teams to deliver outstanding dining experiences.
• Champion high standards of cleanliness, organisation, and professionalism.

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