Relief Chef Manager

Stirfood; Bromley; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Stir is seeking a Relief Chef Manager to lead school catering sites, driving financial control, menu excellence, and team leadership with a focus on high-quality meals and service.

Role involves on-site leadership, client relations, and promoting commercial growth while ensuring health and safety compliance. Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours, term-time calendar (42 weeks). DBS disclosure is mandatory; OND/HND preferred; UK driving licence required.

Qualifications

• Strong working financial understanding for gross profit management and meeting sales targets.
• Proven experience in leading a team and fostering teamwork.
• Extensive craft-based experience using fresh ingredients.
• Solid knowledge of Health and Safety practices in a professional kitchen.
• Full UK driving licence required.

Responsibilities

• Lead the catering units across sites within your area.
• Take full control of operating costs to maximise profitability.
• Oversee culinary and menu development to ensure high quality meals.
• Coach, motivate and support staff to deliver excellent dining experiences.
• Drive sales and revenue growth through promotions and events.
• Ensure compliance with company procedures and legislation and conduct audits.
• Build and maintain strong client relations, acting as Stir on site.

Skills

Financial acumen

Team leadership

Fresh ingredients

Health and safety

Driving licence

Education

OND or HND qualification

Job description

As a Relief Chef Manager, you will be the point of leadership for your sites within your area. This pivotal role demands culinary mastery combined with sharp business acumen. You will place emphasis on delivering the highest quality food and service, leveraging your creative flair, originality, and leadership to make a significant stir in the school catering industry.

Role Responsibility

The Relief Chef Manager drives performance across all facets of the catering units:

Financial Command (P&L):Assume full control of the catering operation, including managing and improving all controllable costs (stock, food, and labour) to ensure maximum profitability.

Culinary & Menu Excellence: Lead the preparation of delicious, nutritious, high-quality meals utilising our fresh and sustainable ingredients. Oversee and guide continuous menu development.

Team Leadership & Development: Lead, coach, and motivate all staff, setting a positive tone and guaranteeing a consistently fantastic dining experience for students and staff in line with company standards. Provide outstanding support and guidance to ensure team success.

Commercial Growth:Actively drive sales and revenue growth through the implementation of effective monthly promotions and added-value events.

Compliance & Audit:Ensure full compliance with all company systems, procedures, and relevant legislation. Conduct regular operational audits to verify standards are consistently met.

Client Relations:Build and maintain strong, positive relationships with both clients and customers, acting as the primary representative for Stir on site.

The Ideal Candidate

We are seeking a proactive leader who balances culinary passion with demonstrated business capability:

Strong working financial understanding of gross profit management and a track record of achieving demanding sales targets.

A natural, positive leader with proven experience in managing a team and fostering exceptional teamwork.

Extensive craft-based experience using fresh ingredients.

Strong knowledge of all current Health and Safety practices within a professional kitchen environment.

A full UK driving licence

Possession of an OND or HND Qualification is preferred, but not essential.

Package Description

At Stir, we give our teams the time, freedom, and tools they need to feel pride in their work every single day! You'll also benefit from a true commitment to work-life balance:

Monday to Friday working only—say goodbye to all weekend shifts!

37.5 hours working with no late nights.

42 working weeks per year, structured around the term-time calendar (maximising time with family and friends!).

£35,000 per annum

Join a fast-growing, ambitious company dedicated to supporting your long-term career development.

Access to our dedicated Learning & Development team for apprenticeships and advanced training courses available to all staff.

Crucial Note: We expect all staff to share our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children/young people. This role requires a mandatory enhanced DBS disclosure. Due to high demand for this key position, the role may be filled before the official closing date.

About the Company

We’re a specialised school catering company with a deep passion for high-quality food, dedicated to fostering a community spirit and driving a mission to instil pride back into school kitchens across the UK.

Our success is powered by an exceptional and highly valued team. We boast a diverse range of experts, skills, and abilities, all united by our common goal of creating a significant impact and stirring innovation within education catering.

We are committed to maintaining uncompromisingly high standards—both in the culinary excellence of the food we serve and in the professional management and safety of our kitchen environments. This commitment is supported by our dedicated team and reinforced through regular support and targeted training, ensuring our on-site teams possess the precise skills needed to deliver the performance we expect.

We actively seek individuals with creative initiative and growth ambition. We offer exciting opportunities designed to attract strategic thinkers and bold movers ready to advance their careers with us. If this vision resonates with you, we encourage you to connect with our team.