At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead kitchen operations, create menus, manage budgets, and ensure food safety.
- Company: Join a vibrant café team focused on serving fresh meals for children.
- Benefits: Enjoy daytime hours, 28 days holiday, and at least one weekend off each week.
- Why this job: Perfect for those seeking work-life balance and a chance to lead a passionate kitchen team.
- Qualifications: Must have kitchen management experience and a solid understanding of food safety.
- Other info: Experience in school catering is a plus!
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
Hours: Daytimes only, 10:00am - 5:30pm
Days Off: At least one weekend day off every week
Holidays: 28 days (including bank holidays)
We’re looking for a reliable and experienced Cook Team Leader to head up the kitchen across two vibrant cafés serving simple, fresh meals, mainly for children (e.g. nachos, burgers, fish & chips, pasta, etc.). This is a daytime-only role offering a great work-life balance - no late finishes and at least one weekend day off.
What you’ll be doing:
- Leading kitchen operations and cooking during service
- Creating and costing seasonal menus
- Managing the food budget and stock
- Overseeing food safety, HACCP, and all legal compliance
- Catering for dietary needs
- Supervising and motivating the kitchen team
- Handling all kitchen admin and paperwork
- Maintaining consistent food quality and cleanliness standards
What we’re looking for:
- A strong leader with kitchen management experience
- Someone highly organised and confident with kitchen systems
- Solid understanding of food safety, allergens, and compliance
- Good tenure in previous roles
- Experience as a Sous Chef, Chef Manager, or similar
- Experience cooking in schools will be beneficial
Chef Manager - St Albans (daytimes only) employer: Collins King & Associates Limited
Contact Detail:
Collins King & Associates Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chef Manager - St Albans (daytimes only)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific dietary needs of children, as this role involves catering to them. Highlight any relevant experience you have in creating child-friendly menus or working in similar environments.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your leadership skills by preparing examples of how you've successfully managed a kitchen team in the past. Be ready to discuss how you motivate and supervise staff to maintain high standards.
✨Tip Number 3
Research the latest trends in food safety and compliance, especially those relevant to children's meals. Being knowledgeable about HACCP and allergen management will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Emphasise your organisational skills, particularly in managing budgets and stock. Prepare to discuss how you've effectively handled kitchen admin and paperwork in previous roles.
We think you need these skills to ace Chef Manager - St Albans (daytimes only)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your kitchen management experience and leadership skills. Include specific examples of how you've successfully led a team and managed kitchen operations.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for cooking and your ability to create seasonal menus. Mention any relevant experience with dietary needs and food safety compliance.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your application, emphasise your previous roles as a Sous Chef or Chef Manager. If you have experience cooking in schools, be sure to mention it as it will be beneficial for this position.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Demonstrate your leadership abilities by providing examples of how you've motivated and supervised a kitchen team. This is crucial for the role, so make it stand out in your application.
How to prepare for a job interview at Collins King & Associates Limited
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Chef Manager, you'll be leading a team, so it's crucial to demonstrate your leadership abilities. Share specific examples of how you've successfully managed a kitchen team in the past, highlighting your approach to motivating and supervising staff.
✨Discuss Menu Creation and Costing
Since the role involves creating and costing seasonal menus, be prepared to discuss your experience in this area. Bring examples of menus you've developed and explain how you manage food costs while ensuring quality and variety.
✨Emphasise Food Safety Knowledge
Food safety is paramount in any kitchen. Make sure to highlight your understanding of food safety regulations, HACCP, and allergen management. Be ready to discuss how you've implemented these practices in previous roles.
✨Demonstrate Organisational Skills
This role requires strong organisational skills, especially when it comes to managing budgets and kitchen admin. Prepare to talk about how you keep everything running smoothly, from stock management to paperwork, and provide examples of your systems.