Night Shift - Head Production Chef

D R Newitt & Associates; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

D&R Newitt & Associates is seeking a Night Shift - Head Production Chef to lead production and prep of meals in Cheshire. You will establish processes, ensure output quality, and scale daily production from launch to thousands of meals per day.

Role requires leadership in a fast-paced, growth-focused startup environment with strong emphasis on safety, HACCP Level 3+, and cost management. You will manage rotas, staff performance, and build a high-performance kitchen culture.

Qualifications

• Experience in a high-volume food production facility, CPU, or large-scale catering environment.
• Practical experience with cook-chill and chilled food production.
• Proven leadership experience managing production or kitchen teams.
• Strong financial and operational management skills.
• Highly organised, process-driven, and comfortable in fast-paced environments.
• Right to work in the UK

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day kitchen, production, and dispatch activities.
• Manage production schedules to ensure efficiency, consistency, and on-time output.
• Implement strong stock control, inventory systems, and cost management processes.
• Lead all food safety, hygiene, and health & safety practices.
• Lead HACCP implementation

Skills

Leadership

High-volume production

HACCP Level 3

Food safety

Budget management

Stock control

Job description

Location: Cheshire

Reports to: CEO

Working Rights: Only applicants with full UK working rights will be considered for this vacancy, sponsorship is not available on this occasion

ABOUT THE EMPLOYER

A rapidly growing, mission-driven start-up is launching its first large-scale production facility. This is a fast-paced environment suited to someone who enjoys building systems from the ground up and thrives in periods of rapid growth and change.

THE ROLE

The Night Shift - Head Production Chef will lead and manage production and prepping of meals. You will establish all operational processes, ensure consistent output quality, and scale daily production from launch phase to several thousand meals per day.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Production & Operations Management

• Oversee day-to-day kitchen, production, and dispatch activities.
• Currently producing 20,000 meals per week which you will support to manage and grow
• Manage production schedules to ensure efficiency, consistency, and on-time output.
• Implement strong stock control, inventory systems, and cost management processes.

Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Lead all food safety, hygiene, and health & safety practices.
• Implement and maintain HACCP (Level 3+ required).

Team Leadership

• Train, and manage kitchen and production staff.
• Build a positive, safe, and high-performance team culture.
• Manage rotas, performance, and staffing levels to match production needs.

REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Experience in a high-volume food production facility, CPU, or large-scale catering environment (not restaurant-only).
• Practical experience with cook-chill and chilled food production.
• Proven leadership experience managing production or kitchen teams.
• Strong financial and operational management skills.
• Highly organised, process-driven, and comfortable in fast-paced environments.
• Right to work in the UK