Sous Chef

Chartwells Independent; Ashton-under-Lyne; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free meals

Onsite car parking

Subsidised gym membership

Contributory pension scheme

Career Pathways and MyLearning

Job summary

UK Hydrographic Office in Taunton is seeking a hands-on Sous Chef to lead a busy catering operation. You will mentor a small team, directly prepare meals, and manage daily feeding and function activities in a fast-paced environment.

The role requires proven Sous Chef experience, strong leadership, and excellent organisation and communication skills to maintain high standards and safety across all operations.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a Sous Chef or Senior Chef role.
• A hands-on leader who enjoys working alongside their team.
• Strong organisational and communication skills.
• The ability to manage a small team effectively and responsibly.
• Calm under pressure and confident in a high-volume catering environment.
• Reliable, flexible, and able to adapt to changing weekly schedules.
• A safety-first mindset with a genuine passion for food.

Responsibilities

• Preparing and delivering high-quality, nutritious meals for Service Personnel
• Leading from the front in a hands-on Sous Chef role
• Managing daily feeding and function activities
• Supporting, motivating, and developing a team
• Ensuring excellent food presentation, consistency, and service standards
• Managing food ordering, stock control, and minimising waste
• Maintaining the highest standards of food hygiene, cleanliness, and safety
• Managing budgets and ensuring financial targets are met
• Ensuring full compliance with Food Safety and Health & Safety regulations

Skills

Sous Chef experience

Hands-on leadership

Organisational skills

Team management

Calm under pressure

Flexible/adaptable

Food safety mindset

Job description

Sous Chef – UK Hydrographic Office, Taunton

£14.50 per hour | 37.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday

We’re looking for an experienced, hands‑onSousChefto lead our catering operation. This is a fantastic opportunity for astrong kitchen leader who enjoys being on the tools, supporting their team, anddelivering high‑quality food in a fast‑paced, structured environment.

You’ll be responsible for daily feeding and functionactivities while leading and developing a dedicated team.

What you’ll be doing

• Preparing and delivering high‑quality, nutritious meals for Service Personnel
• Leading from the front in a hands‑on Sous Chef role
• Managing daily feeding and function activities
• Supporting, motivating, and developing a team
• Ensuring excellent food presentation, consistency, and service standards
• Managing food ordering, stock control, and minimising waste
• Maintaining the highest standards of food hygiene, cleanliness, and safety
• Managing budgets and ensuring financial targets are met
• Ensuring full compliance with Food Safety and Health & Safety regulations

What we’re looking for

• Proven experience in a Sous Chef or Senior Chef role
• A hands‑on leader who enjoys working alongside their team
• Strong organisational and communication skills
• The ability to manage a small team effectively and responsibly
• Calm under pressure and confident in a high-volume catering environment
• Reliable, flexible, and able to adapt to changing weekly schedules
• A safety-first mindset with a genuine passion for food

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:

• Free meals
• Onsite free car parking
• Subsidised gym membership
• 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