Lead Chef

Restaurant Associates UK; Chester; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free lunch and coffee while on duty

Free on-site gym and parking

Monthly prize raffle for event tickets

Extensive training and progression

Discounts on partner brands

Job summary

Restaurant Associates UK in Chester is seeking a Lead Chef to head a small kitchen team, ensuring top-quality, well-presented food and a smooth lunchtime service. You’ll oversee safety, ordering and stock, while partnering with the General Manager to drive standards and grow the business.

The role requires passion for food, team leadership, and a keen eye for cost control and commercial impact, with opportunities for development and progression within a supportive, professional environment.

Qualifications

• Leads and develops a kitchen team.
• Knows allergens, HACCP and health & safety standards.
• Manages stock, ordering and financial controls.
• Understands impact of food costs on GP and overall business.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a small kitchen team.
• Oversee food safety and compliance in the kitchen.
• Manage ordering, stock levels and wastage.
• Collaborate with General Manager to raise standards and drive lunchtime service.

Skills

People leadership

Food safety

Stock management

Cost awareness

Tools

Ordering systems

Job description

Lead Chef - Chester

We’re looking for a passionate and driven Lead Chef to join our team and play a key role in delivering an outstanding food experience. This is an exciting opportunity for a chef who takes pride in quality, enjoys developing a team and wants to have a real impact.

You’ll lead and develop a small kitchen team, oversee food safety and compliance, manage ordering and stock, and work closely with the General Manager to improve standards, grow the business and deliver creative, high-quality lunchtime food.

We’re Looking For Someone Who

• Has a genuine passion for food and takes pride in delivering high-quality, well-presented food with creativity and flair.
• Enjoys leading, developing and motivating a kitchen team, creating a positive, supportive and high-performing working environment.
• Understands the importance of food safety, allergens, due diligence, health & safety and kitchen compliance, and takes ownership of maintaining high standards.
• Has commercial awareness, including an understanding of sales, GP, cost control and financial performance, or is keen to develop these skills.
• Is organised and comfortable with the day-to‑day administration of a kitchen, including ordering, stock management and financial controls.
• Is proactive, energetic and full of ideas, with a genuine desire to improve standards, develop the operation and enhance the client experience.
• Takes an active interest in growing the business and increasing footfall, including employee dining, office catering and events.
• Is committed to their own development as well as developing the kitchen team and contributing to the overall success of the business.

What’s On Offer

• Monday–Friday, 6:30am–3:00pm, giving you a great work-life balance.
• No weekends or public holidays.
• Sociable working hours in a supportive and professional environment.
• Free lunch and coffee while on duty.
• Free on-site gym and parking.
• Monthly prize raffle, with the chance to win event and concert tickets, gifts and more.
• Extensive training and progression opportunities to support your professional development.
• The opportunity to work closely with the General Manager to develop and grow the business, improve performance and make a real impact.

Benefits

We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

• Discounted Event tickets
• Contributory pension scheme
• Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
• Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
• Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
• Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
• Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
• You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families

About Us

Restaurant Associates provides brilliant hospitality through our food, drink and services. We work with our partners and collaborate with our clients to achieve great things together. Every day, our teams of passionate hospitality professionals strive for excellence in delivering employee dining and hospitality to some of the UK's leading workplace as well as inspiring exceptional experiences in iconic cultural and heritage destinations.

Job Reference: com/1409/92982001/52759115/SU #RA Group

Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!