Kitchen Manager

Select; Ely; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Select, Destination Retail in Cambridge, is seeking a hands-on Head Chef to lead the kitchen and drive a refreshed food offering. You will own the day-to-day operations, inspire a team and deliver high-quality dishes that reflect the business standards.

You will balance creativity with commercial awareness, develop menus, manage costs and ensure consistent, excellent service in a bustling destination retail setting. This role offers a daytime-focused, customer‑facing leadership opportunity.

Qualifications

• Experience as Head Chef or senior kitchen leader
• Strong leadership and team management experience
• Ability to develop menus and manage costs
• Comply with hygiene and safety standards

Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen day-to-day and inspire the team
• Ensure food quality, consistency and presentation
• Develop menus and introduce fresh ideas
• Control food costs, stock, ordering and waste
• Maintain high hygiene and safety standards
• Coordinate kitchen operations with wider management
• Create a positive kitchen culture and great guest experience

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Menu development

Food costing

Kitchen management

Culinary excellence

Job description

Head Chef – Destination Retail | Ely

Salary up to £34,000 | 35–40 Hours per Week | Daytime-Focused Opportunity

Lead the Kitchen. Shape the Future. Make Your Mark.

Are you a passionate Head Chef who loves great food, enjoys leading a team and wants the opportunity to take an established food business to the next level?

We’re looking for an ambitious, hands‑on Head Chef to lead the kitchen at an exciting destination retail business in Cambridge. This is a fantastic opportunity to take ownership of an established operation, bring fresh ideas to the table and help shape the next chapter of its success.

This is more than just running a kitchen. We want someone who can build on what already works, introduce new ideas, develop the food offering and create an experience that keeps customers coming back.

The Role

As Head Chef, you’ll take responsibility for the day‑to‑day running of the kitchen, leading your team and ensuring that every dish reflects the quality and standards the business is known for.

You’ll have the opportunity to put your own stamp on the operation, balancing the delivery of a consistent, high‑quality food offering with the creativity and commercial awareness needed to grow an established business.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading, motivating and developing the kitchen team.

• Taking ownership of food quality, consistency, presentation and standards.

• Developing menus and introducing fresh ideas to keep the food offering exciting.

• Managing food costs, stock control, ordering and minimising waste.

• Ensuring excellent food hygiene, health and safety standards.

• Organising kitchen operations, preparation and service to ensure everything runs smoothly.

• Working closely with the wider management team to identify opportunities to improve and grow the business.

• Creating a positive kitchen culture where people take pride in what they do.

• Delivering a fantastic customer experience through great food and reliable service.

About You

We’re looking for a chef who combines strong culinary skills with leadership, commercial awareness and a genuine desire to make a difference.

You’ll ideally have:

• Experience as a Head Chef, Sous Chef or in a similar senior kitchen position.

• The confidence to lead a team and take ownership of an operation.

• A passion for fresh, quality food and consistently high standards.

• Experience with menu development, food costing and kitchen management.

• A practical, hands‑on approach and the ability to lead by example.

• The creativity to bring new ideas and opportunities to an established business.

• A positive, proactive attitude and the ambition to make things better.

Above all, you’ll be someone who sees potential, enjoys taking responsibility and wants to be part of building something successful.

What’s in It for You?

• Salary up to £34,000, depending on experience.

• 35–40 hours per week, offering a more balanced approach to working life.

• The opportunity to lead an established kitchen operation with scope to develop it further.

• The freedom to contribute ideas, influence menus and make a genuine impact.

• The chance to build, develop and grow a business with an established customer base.

• A varied role within a vibrant destination retail environment in Cambridge.

Ready to Make Your Mark?

This is an excellent opportunity for a chef who wants more than simply keeping a kitchen running. We’re looking for someone who wants to take ownership, develop their team, improve the offering and help an established business reach its full potential.

If you’re a motivated chef with the passion, personality and drive to make a difference, we’d love to hear from you.

Bring your ideas. Lead your team. Help shape what comes next.