Kitchen Manager / Head Chef - Spa Café

Center Parcs; Rufford CP; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free day passes

Discounts on breaks

Bonus scheme

Supportive team

Career development

Job summary

Center Parcs Spa Café Sherwood Forest in the UK is seeking a Kitchen Manager / Head Chef to lead a busy kitchen, ensuring exceptional food quality and service while managing budgets. You will oversee operations, uphold hygiene standards, and collaborate with the Restaurant Manager to drive guest satisfaction and business success.

The role is full-time, with a circa £42,000 salary and a 12% bonus scheme, and offers development opportunities within a supportive team at Center Parcs.

Qualifications

• Experience leading kitchen teams in fast-paced environments.
• Strong budgeting, stock control and waste reduction skills.
• Proven track record in large-scale kitchen operations.
• Experience training and developing kitchen staff.

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, fostering a positive and high-performing culture.

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Budgeting

Food quality

Team development

Hygiene & safety

Staff management

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

Each colleague at Center Parcs is involved in building better worlds for our guests, colleagues, communities and our environment. Contributing to our purpose means living out our values : We care, we're brave, we're determined and we're naturally us.

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.

Closing date: 7th October 2026 #INPLOIv2 Please note this vacancy may close at any time once sufficient applications have been received. Early submission of your application is therefore encouraged.