Kitchen Manager

Holiday Inn Ashford Central; Ashford; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully funded apprenticeships

Discounts on hotel stays and retailers

Free gym and leisure facilities

Wellbeing support 24/7

Job summary

Kew Green Hotels in the UK is seeking an experienced Kitchen Manager to own the kitchen operation, drive quality, efficiency and profitability, and foster a positive culture for the team.

Reporting to the Hotel Manager, you will lead menu execution, manage budgets, ensure health and safety compliance, and develop your kitchen staff to deliver memorable guest experiences.

This role offers career development through apprenticeships and a supportive group environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Kitchen Manager, Head Chef or in a similar leadership role.
• Strong leadership skills with ability to motivate, coach and develop a team.
• Solid understanding of food safety, health & hygiene regulations and compliance requirements.
• Commercial awareness with experience managing budgets, controlling costs and driving profitability.
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment while maintaining high standards.
• Proactive and solutions-focused mindset with a passion for delivering great food and experiences.
• Strong communication and organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen function to operate efficiently, safely and profitably while delivering high-quality food.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, training and development of line chefs.
• Review guest feedback and drive improvements in food quality and service delivery.
• Manage kitchen administration, including compliance documentation and audits.
• Ensure health, hygiene and food safety regulations are audit-ready at all times.
• Control stock, ordering, rotation and waste to maximise gross profit.
• Take ownership of budgets and deliver against financial targets.
• Collaborate with other departments to enhance guest experience.

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Team development

Food safety

Budget management

Profitability

Communication

Organisational skills

Problem solving

Job description

We’re looking for an experienced and motivated Kitchen Manager to take ownership of our kitchen operation. You’ll lead from the front, driving quality, efficiency and profitability while creating a positive, engaging culture for your team.

Reporting directly to the Hotel Manager, you’ll be responsible for ensuring the kitchen consistently delivers high standards, meets all compliance requirements and plays a key role in the overall success of the hotel.

About the Role

You’ll lead the kitchen function, ensuring it operates efficiently, safely and profitably while delivering consistently high-quality food.

Key responsibilities include:

• Ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality food that enhances the guest experience.
• Leading, motivating and developing the kitchen team to deliver excellence while embedding company values and culture.
• Reviewing guest feedback regularly and identifying innovative ways to improve food quality and service delivery.
• Managing all kitchen administration, including compliance documentation, audits and third-party contractors.
• Ensuring full compliance with Health, Hygiene and Food Safety regulations, maintaining audit-ready standards at all times.
• Managing stock control, ordering and rotation to minimise waste and maximise gross profit.
• Taking ownership of budgets, controlling costs and delivering against agreed financial targets.
• Partnering with other departments to ensure smooth, joined-up operations that enhance the overall guest experience.
• Supporting recruitment, onboarding, training and development of Line Chefs to build a strong and capable team.

About You

You’re a confident kitchen leader who combines strong culinary knowledge with commercial awareness and people leadership. You set high standards and bring out the best in your team.

We’re looking for someone who brings:

• Proven experience as a Kitchen Manager, Head Chef or in a similar leadership role.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to motivate, coach and develop a team.
• A solid understanding of food safety, health & hygiene regulations and compliance requirements.
• Commercial awareness, with experience managing budgets, controlling costs and driving profitability.
• The ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment while maintaining high standards.
• A proactive and solutions-focused mindset, always looking for ways to improve.
• Strong communication and organisational skills.
• A positive, can-do attitude and a passion for delivering great food and great experiences.

What’s in it for you

• Career development through fully funded apprenticeships and our internal development programme.
• Discounts on hotel stays and a variety of major retailers, restaurants and days out.
• Free use of our gyms, pools, and leisure facilities.
• 24/7 access to wellbeing, financial, and legal support.

At Kew Green Hotels, we’re committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, just let us know at [e-mail] - we’re here to support you.

Who are Kew Green Hotels?

Kew Green Hotels is one of the UK’s leading hotel management companies, operating a diverse portfolio of global brands. We’re a people-driven business that’s passionate about performance, guest experience, and creating hotels and teams that make us proud.

Learn more about who we are and what drives us at www.kewgreenhotels.com.