Kitchen Manager / Head Chef - Spa Café

Center Parcs UK & Ireland; Newark on Trent; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free day passes

Discounts on breaks

Bonus scheme

Supportive team

Career development

Job summary

Center Parcs UK & Ireland's Sherwood Forest Spa Café is seeking a Kitchen Manager / Head Chef to lead the kitchen, ensuring exceptional food quality and guest service while overseeing operations, budgets and team culture.

You will manage a large kitchen team, drive hygiene standards, coach staff, and work with the Restaurant Manager to drive business, with shifts 7:00am–9:00pm and 150 contracted hours per 4-week period.

Qualifications

• Experience leading kitchen teams in fast-paced environments.
• Strong financial awareness with stock control and waste reduction.
• Proven management experience in large-scale kitchen operations.
• Experience training and developing a kitchen team.
• Motivational leadership fostering collaboration and accountability.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and coordinate all kitchen operations to company standards.
• Ensure food quality, service and guest satisfaction while meeting financial targets.
• Maintain strict hygiene and safety compliance.
• Collaborate with the Restaurant Manager to drive business success.
• Lead, motivate and manage the kitchen team.

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Budgeting

Stock control

Team development

Guest service

Job description

Kitchen Manager / Head Chef - Spa Café

Sherwood Forest | Circa £42,000 per annum plus 12% bonus scheme

Serve up the flavour that turns a good break into a great one

We're looking for a Kitchen Manager / Head Chef to lead a team and deliver exceptional food quality and service to guests. You'll oversee kitchen operations, ensure high standards, manage budgets and foster a positive team culture.

What You'll Be Doing

• Oversee and coordinate all kitchen operations to company standards
• Ensure food quality, service and guest satisfaction while meeting financial targets
• Maintain strict hygiene and safety compliance
• Collaborate with the Restaurant Manager to drive business success
• Lead, motivate and manage the kitchen team, fostering a positive and high-performing culture

What's In It For You

• Free day passes and access to leisure facilities (including the spa)
• Discounts on breaks and in our shops and restaurants
• Bonus scheme and recognition rewards
• A supportive, friendly team
• Career development and in‑role training

Your working hours

• Full-time contract, 150 contracted hours per 4-week period
• Shifts fall between 7:00am to 9:00pm
• This role includes early mornings, evenings, weekends and bank holidays

About You

• Experienced in leading kitchen teams in fast-paced environments
• Strong financial awareness in stock control, scheduling and waste reduction
• Proven management experience in large-scale kitchen operations
• Experience in training and developing a kitchen team
• Motivational leadership fostering collaboration and accountability
• Empathetic and supportive approach to leading a team

Our values

We care, we’re brave, we’re determined and we’re naturally us.

Closing date: 7th October 2026

At Center Parcs, everyone's welcome.

We recognise that we're all at our best when we're being ourselves. We are committed to building a culture that champions diversity, equity and inclusion, where everyone is treated fairly and with respect. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want them to feel valued for their individuality, thrive in our business and share a sense of belonging. We place a lot of value on recruiting based on behaviours rather than prioritising qualifications or experience.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, please let us know if you require any support or reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process.