Sous Chef

Manchester Metropolitan University; Manchester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Manchester is seeking a Sous Chef to support the management of catering services. The ideal candidate will have experience in delivering high-standard VIP events and menu creation. This role offers a better work-life balance compared to traditional hospitality positions, with opportunities for creative kitchen management while engaging in a vibrant community environment.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Professional development opportunities

Inclusive culture and employee support

Qualifications

• Experience in catering and hospitality with a focus on high standards.
• Strong ability to lead and motivate kitchen staff across multiple sites.
• Ability to create relevant, on-trend menus.

Responsibilities

• Manage planning, preparation, and presentation of food.
• Create menu concepts for diverse customers.
• Ensure compliance with food safety and operational policies.

Skills

High standard VIP event delivery

Menu creation and sourcing

Team leadership

Attention to detail

Job description

About the role

This is an exciting new opportunity to join the multi-award winning Facilities team at Manchester Metropolitan University within the Commercial Services department (Accommodation, Catering and Conferences) on their journey to become the best Facilities department in the sector and support the University's ambitions of becoming the best modern University in the UK.

The Sous Chef will play a vital role in supporting the future development of the Commercial Services department. The post holder will:

Support the Hospitality & Events Lead Chef in the management of all aspects of planning, preparation, production, food safety and presentation of food delivered across the University.

Support in the creation of menu ideas and develop concepts to ensure the catering food offer remains relevant and on-trend for the wide variety of customers and hospitality clients.

Ensure effective management of kitchen staff, with particular focus on operational policies, procedures and good management practices, which deliver compliance with all statutory obligations.

About You

The Sous Chef will be able to deliver very high standard VIP events, have the ability to create, source, and deliver new menus and be able to support and lead and motivate teams of staff across a multi-site operation, including a central production kitchen.

This role is ideal for someone with a love of catering, cooking, and working in the hospitality industry, but who may be tired of long hours and extensive evening / weekend work.

This role would suit a talented individual with strong attention to detail who is looking for better work – life balance, as peak periods within the University are more likely to be weekdays / daytime. You would be required to work occasionally on high profile VIP events during the weekend or evenings, but this is less common than within the private sector.

About the department

Responsible for delivering Food & Beverage services across the Manchester Campus, the current in-house team provide both retail catering and hospitality services across a range of outlets and locations.

The service supports the core business of the University and aims to enhance the staff and student experience whilst delivering an annual contribution for reinvestment.

How to apply

To apply, please submit your CV and covering letter (of no more than 2 pages) via our application portal.

Manchester Metropolitan University fosters an inclusive culture of belonging that promotes equity and celebrates diversity. We value a diverse workforce for the innovation and diversity of thought it brings and welcome applications from all local and international communities, including Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

We support a range of flexible working arrangements, including hybrid and tailored schedules, which can be discussed with your line manager. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in your role, please let us know so we can provide appropriate support.

Our commitment to inclusivity includes mentoring programmes, accessibility resources, and professional development opportunities to empower and support underrepresented groups.

Manchester Met is a Disability Confident Leader and, under this scheme, aims to offer an interview to disabled people who apply for the role and meet the essential criteria as listed in the attached Job Description for that vacancy.

This vacancy is expected to attract a high volume of applications. Therefore, under the Disability Confident Scheme, only disabled people who apply under the scheme and best meet the essential criteria will be offered an interview.