Kitchen Manager - Major New CPU

Fuelbetter Limited; City Of London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A food production company in London is seeking a Central Production Unit Manager to lead the launch of their new facility. This role requires a blend of operational expertise and leadership to execute high-volume meal production. Successful candidates will have experience in kitchen management, HACCP implementation, and a commitment to food safety. The position offers a competitive salary, performance bonuses, and a chance to build a critical business function from the ground up.

Benefits

Highly competitive salary

Performance-based bonus

Career progression opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Kitchen Manager, Production Manager, or in similar high-volume food production.
• Demonstrable experience with cook-chill systems.
• In-depth knowledge of HACCP (Level 3 minimum, Level 4 preferred).
• Experience managing food safety and quality audits.
• Ability to thrive under pressure in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the final stages of kitchen setup and equipment commissioning.
• Oversee daily kitchen operations and manage production schedules.
• Implement and manage a robust inventory management system.
• Champion food safety and health & safety protocols.
• Recruit, train, and mentor a team of kitchen chefs and production operatives.

Skills

Kitchen Management Experience

Cook-Chill Systems Knowledge

HACCP Implementation

Food Safety Auditing

Team Leadership

Financial Acumen

Data-Driven Mindset

Job description

Job Title:Central Production Unit (CPU) Manager (Wandsworth/Clapham, London)

Location:London, UK

Reports to:CEO

Salary:Competitive, Based on Experience + Performance Bonus + Equity Options

Scale:up to 3 million meals/year from this CPU location

ABOUTFUELBETTER

Fuelbetter (https://fuelbetter.co) is on a mission to tackle the epidemic of diet-related chronic disease by making eating-your-healthiest-everyday truly effortless & truly affordable.

Fuelbetter does this by giving every family their own chef and dietitian team – for as low as £5 per person per day, plus the cost of groceries used to make their meals.

We take away all the work of meal planning, shopping, cooking, and clean-up. Every meal is tailored to each family member’s needs, restrictions, and health goals. Just delicious, nutritionally complete, nutritionally tailored food — done for you.

Learn more about our mission at https://fuelbetter.co/post/the-fuelbetter-solution

THE ROLE

We are seeking an exceptional, hands-on, and experienced CPU Manager to lead the launch and ongoing management of our first London-based production facility. You will be the cornerstone of our production, responsible for transforming individually customised, medically-tailored meals concept into a flawlessly executed, high-volume reality. This role requires a unique blend of operational expertise, stringent quality control, and inspirational leadership. You will be instrumental in setting up systems from scratch, building a world-class team, and ensuring every single meal that leaves our facility is perfect.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Facility Launch & Setup:
  • Lead the final stages of kitchen setup, including equipment commissioning and workflow design to maximise efficiency and safety.
  • Develop, implement, and document all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for production, packing, and dispatch.
  • Play a key role in hiring, training, and building the founding kitchen team.
• Production & Operations Management:
  • Oversee all daily kitchen operations, growing from 0 to potentially ~12,000 high-quality, nutritionally-tailored chilled meals per day.
  • Develop and manage production schedules, ensuring targets are met consistently and efficiently.
  • Implement and manage a robust inventory management system, overseeing procurement, stock rotation (FIFO), and supplier relationships to control costs and minimise waste.
• Quality, Safety & Compliance (Non-Negotiable):
  • Be the champion for all food safety and health & safety protocols.
  • Implement and manage a rigorous HACCP system. You must have deep, practical experience here.
  • Ensure absolute precision in recipe execution and portion control, with a critical focus on allergen management and control for medically tailored requirements.
  • Prepare the facility to meet and exceed industry standards, with a goal of achieving SALSA or BRC certification.
  • Manage all aspects of compliance with UK food hygiene legislation and local authority EHO visits.
• Team Leadership & Development:
  • Recruit, train, mentor, and manage a team of kitchen chefs and production operatives.
  • Foster a positive, safe, and high-performance culture rooted in quality and accountability.
  • Manage staff rotas, payroll, and performance reviews.
• Financial & Performance Control:
  • Manage the kitchen budget, with a sharp focus on food costs (COGS), labour costs, and operational expenses.
  • Analyse production data to identify areas for continuous improvement in efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
  • Provide regular performance reports to senior management.

REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Proven experience as a Kitchen Manager, Production Manager, or similar role within a high-volume food production facility, CPU, or large-scale catering environment.(Experience in a standard restaurant kitchen alone is not sufficient).
• Demonstrable experience with cook-chill systems and chilled food production.
• Essential:In-depth, practical knowledge and implementation experience of HACCP (minimum Level 3, Level 4 preferred).
• Strong experience in managing food safety and quality audits. Experience with BRC or SALSA standards is highly desirable.
• Proven track record of successfully leading, motivating, and developing a large kitchen team.
• Excellent financial acumen with experience managing budgets, P&L, and controlling costs.
• A meticulous, data-driven, and process-oriented mindset.
• Ability to thrive under pressure in a fast-paced, startup environment.
• Must have the right to work in the UK.

WHAT WE OFFER

• A highly competitive salary and performance-based bonus.
• The unique opportunity to build a critical business function from the ground up.
• A chance to be part of a mission-driven company with a positive social impact.
• Significant autonomy and responsibility from day one.
• Career progression opportunities as the company grows.