Chef Manager

Sodexo Group; Cork; Hybrid; EUR 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing platform

Employee Assistance Programme

24h virtual GP

Sodexo Discounts Scheme

Pension Plan

Learning and development opportunities

Bike to Work

Enhanced benefits & leave policies

Job summary

Sodexo Group in Cork, Ireland is seeking a Chef Manager to lead the onsite catering operation, delivering high-quality food service for clients and customers. This hands-on leadership role combines kitchen management with operational responsibility, overseeing food preparation, service, stock, and costs while maintaining food safety standards.

You will lead and develop the catering team, plan menus, control costs, and ensure compliance with HACCP, health & safety, and company procedures.

Qualifications

• A proven track record in a Chef Manager or similar senior kitchen/catering role, ideally with at least 2 years' experience.
• A professional cookery qualification such as 7061/7062 or equivalent.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, hygiene and HACCP.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
• Experience managing and developing a catering team.
• Strong menu planning, stock control and food cost management experience.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills.
• The ability to work effectively in a busy, hands-on environment.
• A flexible and positive approach with a strong commitment to delivering high standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day catering and kitchen operation, ensuring a consistently high standard of service.
• Work hands-on in the kitchen, supporting food preparation and service.
• Lead, motivate and develop the catering team, ensuring appropriate training and staffing levels.
• Plan and cost menus in line with the agreed food service offer and company standards.
• Introduce new food concepts, promotions, healthy eating initiatives and sustainable food options.
• Manage ordering, stock control and the use of raw materials to minimise waste and maintain food costs.
• Ensure food is prepared, presented and served to the required quality and temperature standards.
• Maintain full compliance with HACCP, food safety, health & safety, COSHH and company procedures.
• Ensure the kitchen, stores and catering areas are clean, safe and well maintained.
• Monitor kitchen equipment and ensure any faults are reported and rectified promptly.
• Manage catering costs, including labour, stock and other expenditure, within agreed budgets.
• Liaise with the Account Manager, chefs, management and client representatives regarding catering requirements.
• Deliver catering for special functions and events where required.
• Respond professionally to customer feedback, complaints and requests.
• Drive continuous improvement and identify opportunities to enhance the customer experience and catering offer.

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Team leadership

Menu planning

Food cost management

HACCP knowledge

Food safety

Customer service

Communication

Education

Professional cookery qualification (e.g., 7061/7062)

Job description

Chef Manager

Location: Cork, Ireland
Salary: Up to €50,000 plus Sodexo benefits
Contract Type: Full Time, Permanent

We are looking for an experienced and passionate Chef Manager to lead the catering operation on site and ensure the delivery of a high-quality food service for our client and customers.

This is a hands-on leadership role, combining kitchen management with operational responsibility. You will lead the catering team, oversee food preparation and service, manage costs and stock, and ensure the highest standards of food safety, hygiene and customer service are consistently maintained.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day catering and kitchen operation, ensuring a consistently high standard of service.
• Work hands-on in the kitchen, supporting food preparation and service.
• Lead, motivate and develop the catering team, ensuring appropriate training and staffing levels.
• Plan and cost menus in line with the agreed food service offer and company standards.
• Introduce new food concepts, promotions, healthy eating initiatives and sustainable food options.
• Manage ordering, stock control and the use of raw materials to minimise waste and maintain food costs.
• Ensure food is prepared, presented and served to the required quality and temperature standards.
• Maintain full compliance with HACCP, food safety, health & safety, COSHH and company procedures.
• Ensure the kitchen, stores and catering areas are clean, safe and well maintained.
• Monitor kitchen equipment and ensure any faults are reported and rectified promptly.
• Manage catering costs, including labour, stock and other expenditure, within agreed budgets.
• Liaise with the Account Manager, chefs, management and client representatives regarding catering requirements.
• Deliver catering for special functions and events where required.
• Respond professionally to customer feedback, complaints and requests.
• Drive continuous improvement and identify opportunities to enhance the customer experience and catering offer.

About You

The successful candidate will have:

• A proven track record in a Chef Manager or similar senior kitchen/catering role, ideally with at least 2 years' experience.
• A professional cookery qualification such as 7061/7062 or equivalent.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, hygiene and HACCP.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
• Experience managing and developing a catering team.
• Strong menu planning, stock control and food cost management experience.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills.
• The ability to work effectively in a busy, hands-on environment.
• A flexible and positive approach with a strong commitment to delivering high standards.

Desirable:

• IOSH qualification.
• Experience with cash handling and processing.
• Experience supporting monthly billing processes.
• Strong stock-taking and menu management experience.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for a hands-on Chef Manager who takes pride in delivering excellent food and service, while ensuring the operation is safe, compliant and commercially well managed.

If you are an experienced catering professional who enjoys leading a team, developing food concepts and creating an excellent customer experience, we'd love to hear from you.

Why Join Us?

This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of essential services within a leading pharmaceutical environment, where your contribution will be visible, valued and impactful.

You'll join a team committed to:

• Delivering excellence every day.
• Investing in people and career development.
• Creating a safe, inclusive and high-performing workplace.
• Driving continuous improvement and innovation.
• Making a meaningful difference for clients, customers and colleagues alike.

If you're an ambitious Soft Services leader ready to take the next step in your career, we'd love to hear from you.

Why Sodexo?:

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it’s a chance tobe part of something greater.

Belong in a company and team that values you foryou.

Act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions.

Thrive in your own way.

We also offer a range of perks, rewards and benefits for our colleagues and their families:

• Unlimited access to an online platform offering wellbeing support
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme to help with everyday issues or life's larger problems, including legal and financial advice, support with work or personal issues impacting your wellbeing
• Access to a 24hr virtual GP Service
• Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering great deals 24/7 across popular high street retailers (also open to friends and family)
• Save for your future by becoming a member of the Pension Plan
• Opportunities to enable colleagues to grow and succeed throughout their career at Sodexo, including a variety of learning and development tools
• Bike to Work Scheme to help colleagues to do their bit for the environment whilst keeping fit
• Sodexo UK and Irelands enhanced benefits and leave policies

A little more about Sodexo:

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better every day for everyone to build a better life for all. As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100million consumers each day through our unique combination of On-Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services.

We are committed tobeingan inclusive employer. We are a forces friendly employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds and identities. We encourage our employees to get involved with our Employee Networks such as Pride, Sodexo Parents & Carers, Sodexo Disability, Ability network, SoTogether, Generations and Origins.

We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer. We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations. We run a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.