National Relief Chef Manager

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Derby; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Birthday day off

Michelin-star chef masterclasses

Development courses Levels 2-7

Freedom Friday - paid day off

Free lunch on shift

Discounts & cashback

Job summary

BM Caterers is seeking an experienced Relief Chef Manager to support multiple sites across the UK. The role involves leading kitchen and service teams, delivering high standards of food, and maintaining a positive team culture with energy and consistency.

You’ll be responsible for seasonal menu creation, stock control and cost management, ensuring food safety, allergen, COSHH and HACCP compliance, and developing staff across locations. Driving is essential and 40 hours a week.

Qualifications

• Experience as a Chef Manager or Head Chef with strong leadership.
• City & Guilds 706 1/2 or NVQ and Food Safety Level 3.
• Knowledge of Food Safety Management System requirements and COSHH

Responsibilities

• Provide chef and management cover across BM Caterers sites.
• Lead kitchen and service teams to deliver high standards.
• Prepare and present seasonal, well-presented food.
• Support menus, stock control and cost management.
• Build strong relationships with clients, customers and site teams.
• Maintain food safety, allergen, health and safety, COSHH and HACCP standards.
• Support team communication, training and development.
• Bring BM culture and standards to life at every site.

Skills

Chef leadership

Cooking skills

Communication

Organizational skills

Flexibility

Driving

Education

City & Guilds 706 1/2 or NVQ

Food Safety Level 3

Job description

We’re a multi award-winning contract catering company, with a team of trained foodies serving over 45,500 satisfied customers every day. We now have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Chef Manager to join our team.

Job Description

Bring great food, confident leadership and flexibility to every site

We’re looking for an experienced Relief Chef Manager to support our sites and help deliver the quality food, excellent service and positive team culture BM Caterers is known for.

This is a Relief Chef Manager position to work 5 days out of 7 days (40 hours per week), covering multiple sites across the UK.
Driving is essential, and travel expenses will be reimbursed.

This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys variety, adapts quickly and can lead each operation with energy, care and consistency.

What you’ll be doing

Providing chef and management cover across BM Caterers sites

Leading kitchen and service teams to deliver consistently high standards

Preparing and presenting seasonal, well-presented food

Supporting menus, food innovation, stock control and cost management

Building strong relationships with clients, customers and site teams

Maintaining food safety, allergen, health and safety, COSHH and HACCP standards

Supporting team communication, training and development

Bringing BM culture and standards to life at every site

What we’re looking for

Experience as a Chef Manager, Head Chef or similar senior catering professional

Strong cooking skills and a passion for quality food

A confident and supportive leadership style

Commercial awareness and good organisational skills

Flexibility to work across different locations and operations

Excellent communication and relationship-building skills

A positive, calm and solutions-focused approach

Why join BM Caterers?

An annual day off for your birthday

Monthly masterclasses with Michelin-starred chefs

Fully funded development courses from Levels 2 to 7

Apprenticeship and career development opportunities

Freedom Friday - a paid day off to volunteer at a charity of your choice

Free lunch on shift

Discounts and cashback at a wide range of retail and leisure outlets

24/7 access to the Mental Health Charter App

Enhanced parental leave

Paid leave for fertility treatment

Extra paid day off for your wedding or commitment day

Pension and life assurance

At BM Caterers, we’re proud to be an inclusive employer. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported and able to thrive. Even if you don’t meet every requirement, we’d still love to hear from you.

Qualifications

Ideally you will be educated to a City & Guilds 706 1 and 2, NVQ or have equivalentskills and experience andhold a Food Safety qualification at Level 3 as a minimum, with Health Safety at Level 2. You must also have an excellent knowledge of Food Safety Management System requirements as well as COSHH