Kitchen Leader

Pret A Manger (Europe) Ltd; Exeter; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 22,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mystery Shopper bonus

Early morning shift bonus 5am start

28 days annual leave

Pension scheme

Healthcare cash plan

Free food and drink while working

Job summary

Pret a Manger Exeter is seeking a Kitchen Leader to oversee daily kitchen operations, ensuring consistent, high‑quality food preparation and a safe, clean environment. You will inspire and manage a team, maintain stock records, and deliver an excellent customer experience.

You will work closely with managers to drive shift performance, resolve issues quickly, and uphold Pret’s values while modelling the brand on every shift. This is a full‑time, on‑site role in the Exeter shop.

Responsibilities

• Lead with purpose to drive team performance, protect profit, and keep customers happy through high standards and great energy.
• Ensure consistent preparation of delicious food meeting Pret's high standards, while promoting a safe, clean, and compliant kitchen environment.
• Manager stock counts and complete administrative tasks accurately to support smooth operations.
• Work closely with Managers to oversee shift performance, resolve issues quickly, and deliver a fresh, satisfying customer experience.

Job description

Stocker Road Exeter EX4 4SZ Hello, we’re Pret Proud makers of freshly made food, organic coffee and big ideas. Across 750+ shops and 20+ countries, our teams are shaping the future of Pret through innovation, inclusion, great customer service and a shared passion for doing the right thing. We’re growing fast on our mission to be the hospitality employer of choice everywhere we operate - so it’s an exciting time to hop on board. Growing good things Pret is where passionate, hardworking, wonderful people (like you!) find what they need to shine. Growth is at the heart of everything we do - from supporting our people to grow in confidence and skills to pursue their unique paths, to figuring out how to make our food and coffee even more delicious and accessible.

Our Teams 85% of our Managers and 25% of our Support Centre teams started on the shop floor. How far could a Pret career take you? Our shops are powered by caring, hardworking and passionate people. Whether you're serving customers, making coffee, preparing food or leading a team, every role plays an important part in creating the Pret experience. Expect flexibility, opportunity and variety. Whatever your ambitions, you'll find a place where you can make an impact and build your career with us in creating the Pret experience.

Now, on the Kitchen Leader Role...

As a Kitchen Leader at Pret a Manger, you’ll play a key role in ensuring the consistent preparation of delicious food that meets our high standards, while leading and inspiring your team to deliver excellence every day. You’ll act as a role model, promoting Pret’s core values and maintaining a safe, clean, and compliant kitchen environment. With a sharp eye for detail, you’ll manage stock counts and complete administrative tasks accurately to support smooth operations. Working closely with Managers, you’ll help oversee shift performance, resolve issues quickly, and ensure every customer enjoys a fresh and satisfying experience.

About you

Be kind, honest and generous: bring genuine warmth and your authentic self to work every day. Bring your passion: share our passion for exceptional customer service. Spread joy every day: small acts of kindness (like giving away a free coffee on the house) are a big part of what makes the Pret experience special.

Experience needed: You lead with purpose driving team performance, protecting profit, and keeping customers happy through high standards and great energy.

Base Pay Rate:£13.85 - £13.85

The perks

• Additional £1.25 per hour Mystery Shopper bonus once training is complete
• After initial training, earn an extra £5 per hour for any shift started between 3-5am
• 28 days annual leave (pro-rata if you're part-time)
• Pension scheme
• Healthcare cash plan
• Free food and drink while you’re working
• And when you’re not, you’ll have our Club Pret Membership (giving you 50% off food and to 5 free Barista-made drinks a day)
• Loyalty award after 5, 10, 15, 20 years’ service
• Regular rewards and recognition for amazing standards
• Access marketplace discounts on shopping, travel, fitness, dining, tech and more
• Comfy free shoes to wear on shift

Life in Our shops

Our shops are a wonderful place to be. For our customers, and for our teams! The teams in our shops bring their talents (and their unique charm) to make every day a little more joyful. Here, you’ll find:

• Individual ways to grow: fully funded professional qualifications, leadership development and informal and formal mentoring
• Diversity & belonging: Everyone’s welcome at Pret - you’ll be valued for who you are and supported to feel confident in yourself and your skills
• Pace & variety: Build a diverse skillset, meet some new people and learn (a LOT)
• Community & purpose: We work together to create positive change through the Pret Foundation We put great care into everything we do - that includes our shops and your career in them. Work here is fast-paced, but your team’s always got your back as you work together to serve delicious food and coffee and share small everyday moments of joy with your customers.

Our values

• Happy Teams Happy Customers
• Amazing Standards Every day
• Never Standing Still
• Doing The Right Thing

The Pret interview journey

Please don’t overly rely on the use of AI, we want to get to know you, not a robot. Then, if we move forward with your application, we’ll start the process with an initial phone screening. The next stage is a 60-minute shop-based interview with the General Manager and the team. Everyone is welcome at Pret. We encourage applications from underrepresented groups, including women, people with disabilities, neurodiversity, ethnic minorities, and the LGBTQ+ community. Please let our recruitment team know if you need any adjustments or support during the recruitment process - your experience matters to us.

Hello, we’re Pret

Life in our Shops

Life in our Support Centre (75B)

Great customer experiences start with great teams. Explore the diverse career paths, skills and opportunities across our shops and Support Centre, and learn how our people bring the Pret experience to life every day.

Our Teams in Shops

Our Teams in Support Centre

Whether you're here for a short stint or the long game, there's a career path for you at Pret. We provide opportunities to learn new skills, take on fresh challenges and build a career you'll be proud of.

Careers Spotlight Graduate Programme Early Careers & Apprenticeships Our Rising Star Programme

That’s for our people, our communities and the planet. We strive to make the kindest choice with the most positive impact wherever we can - and we’re looking for passionate people who can help us keep that spirit alive as we grow.

Read ESG report Read Gender Pay Gap report

We put great care into everything we do - that includes our shops and your career in them. At Pret, everything starts with people. Whether you're in our shops, support centre or digital teams, you'll join a business that moves fast, cares deeply and gives people room to grow.