Regional Chef

Aramark UK; Manchester; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Additional holiday option

Pension scheme

Discounts via app

Cycle to work

Employee assistance programme

Culinary events access

Job summary

Aramark UK is seeking a Regional Chef to provide culinary leadership across Workplace, Health and Education sites within the North region. You will coach and develop kitchen teams, drive service improvements, and ensure high quality, nutritious food across multiple sites.

You'll manage menu development, allergen management, HACCP compliance, and cost control while travelling regularly to sites. A full UK driving licence and strong leadership are essential to succeed in this diverse, multi-site

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Head, Lead, Executive or Regional Chef.
• Experience in contract catering, education or healthcare multi-site environments.
• Strong leadership and coaching abilities.
• Excellent culinary knowledge and nutrition-focused approach.
• Strong understanding of food safety, HACCP and compliance.
• Commercial awareness including costs, labour, stock and waste.

Responsibilities

• Provide culinary leadership across a portfolio of Workplace, Health and Education sites.
• Support sites with operational challenges and service improvements.
• Coach and develop chefs and kitchen teams.
• Support menu development, recipe standardisation, allergens, and nutrition.
• Drive food quality, presentation, service delivery and customer satisfaction.
• Conduct site visits, audits and quality reviews.
• Ensure HACCP, allergen, hygiene and health & safety compliance.
• Support stock management, cost control and procurement compliance.
• Build relationships with leaders, clients and site teams.
• Contribute to new contract mobilisations and regional projects.

Skills

Head Chef

Lead Chef

Executive Chef

Regional Chef

Multi-site leadership

Food safety HACCP

Menu development

Coaching & development

Driving licence

Willing to travel

Job description

Workplace, Health & Education | Regional Role Salary: Up to £45,000 per annum + Excellent Benefits

Lead Culinary Excellence Across Multiple Sites in the North

Are you an experienced chef leader looking for a role that offers variety, influence, and the opportunity to make a real impact?

Aramark UK is seeking a passionate and driven Regional Chef to provide culinary leadership across our Workplace, Health, and Education portfolio. This is a fantastic opportunity to combine your operational expertise, coaching skills, and culinary talent while supporting multiple sites within your designated region.

As a Regional Chef, you'll play a vital role in ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality, nutritious, and customer-focused food services. From supporting mobilisations and driving service improvements to developing kitchen teams and maintaining exceptional culinary standards, you'll be at the forefront of operational excellence across the region.

If you're a natural leader who enjoys working across diverse environments, developing people, and elevating food standards, we'd love to hear from you.

What you’ll do:

• Provide culinary leadership across a portfolio of Workplace, Health, and Education sites.
• Support sites with operational challenges, chef shortages, mobilisations, and service improvement initiatives.
• Coach, mentor, and develop chefs and kitchen teams, helping them achieve consistently high standards.
• Support menu development, recipe standardisation, allergen management, and nutritional requirements.
• Drive excellence in food quality, presentation, service delivery, and customer satisfaction.
• Conduct site visits, audits, and quality reviews, identifying opportunities to improve performance.
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, hygiene, HACCP, allergen, and health and safety requirements.
• Support effective stock management, food cost control, purchasing compliance, and waste reduction.
• Build strong relationships with operational leaders, clients, and site teams.
• Contribute to new contract mobilisations, projects, and business improvement activities across the region.

What we’re looking for:

We're looking for an experienced culinary professional who can inspire teams and deliver exceptional results.

You’ll have:

• Proven experience as a Head Chef, Lead Chef, Executive Chef, Regional Chef, or similar senior culinary position.
• Experience operating within contract catering, education, healthcare, business & industry, or a multi-site environment.
• Strong leadership and coaching abilities with a passion for developing people.
• Excellent culinary knowledge and a commitment to delivering high-quality, nutritious food.
• A thorough understanding of food safety, hygiene, allergen management, HACCP, and compliance requirements.
• Strong commercial awareness, including food costs, labour management, stock control, and waste reduction.
• Experience conducting audits, identifying opportunities for improvement, and implementing best practices.
• The ability to adapt quickly and confidently across multiple locations and operational environments.
• Effective communication and relationship-building skills.
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel regularly throughout your region.

Why Join Aramark UK?

At Aramark, we believe in nurturing talent, developing careers, and creating environments where our people can thrive. This role offers a unique opportunity to influence culinary standards across multiple sites while building strong relationships and supporting the success of teams throughout the region.

No two days will be the same. You'll collaborate with talented colleagues, contribute to meaningful service improvements, and help deliver outstanding food experiences to thousands of customers every day.

What you’ll get:

• Competitive salary of up to £45,000
• Generous annual leave that increases with service
• Option to buy additional holiday
• Company pension scheme
• Access to hundreds of discounts and savings through our benefits app
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Opportunities to attend internal culinary events and experience the creativity and innovation of our food teams

Ready to Take the Lead?

If you're an experienced culinary leader who thrives on variety, enjoys developing teams, and is passionate about delivering exceptional food and service standards, we'd love to hear from you.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all employees and workers to share this commitment. All roles are subject to safer recruitment checks, including references and an enhanced DBS check, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE).