Kitchen Manager / Head Chef - Spa Café

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

Benefits offered by this job

Free day passes

Discounts on breaks and in shops/resta

Bonus scheme

Career development

Job summary

Center Parcs is seeking a Kitchen Manager / Head Chef for the Spa Café at Elveden Forest. You will lead a busy kitchen, deliver exceptional food quality and service to guests, oversee budgets and maintain high hygiene standards.

You will manage a team, drive performance, training and development, and collaborate with the Restaurant Manager to ensure guest satisfaction and operational success. This full‑time role includes early mornings, weekends and bank holidays.

Qualifications

• Experience 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.

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

Team leadership

Kitchen management

Budget management

Food quality

Hygiene & safety

Staff development

Job description

Kitchen Manager / Head Chef - Spa Café Elveden Forest | Circa £42,016 per annum plus 12% bonus scheme Vitalé Café Bar serves Mediterranean-style dishes and drinks in Aqua Sana Forest Spa.

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

• Vitalé Café Bar is open 7 days a week from 8am to 8:30pm
• Full-time contract, with shifts falling between 7:30am and 9pm
• You will be contracted to work 150 hours over a 4‑week period
• This role includes early mornings, evenings, weekends and bank holidays

About you

• Experienced in leading kitchen teams in fast-paced environments
• Strong financialawareness 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.

Sound like your kind of job?

Working here

Elveden Forest (IP24 3TR), isn't easily reached by public transport: Plan Your Journey

Closing date: 23rd November 2026

Please note this vacancy may close at any time once sufficient applications have been received. Early submission of your application is therefore encouraged.

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.