At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic kitchen team and create innovative menus in a high-volume catering environment.
- Company: Join a prestigious contract catering company with a focus on exceptional food and service.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, 28 days holiday, free meals, and great discounts.
- Other info: Flexible working hours with opportunities for professional development and community engagement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by delivering outstanding culinary experiences and leading a passionate team.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Chef Manager or Head Chef with strong leadership and culinary skills.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 40000 £ per year.
Are you an experienced Chef Manager looking for your next challenge within a high-volume contract catering environment? We're looking for a passionate and commercially minded Chef Manager to lead a successful catering operation in Gravesend. This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious catering professional who combines strong culinary skills with proven leadership experience and a genuine passion for delivering exceptional food and service.
Working within a prestigious contract catering environment, you'll have full responsibility for the day-to-day management of the kitchen, team development, customer satisfaction, financial performance, and operational excellence.
The Role
As Chef Manager, you'll be responsible for:
- Leading and developing a team of chefs, cooks, and front of house colleagues
- Planning and delivering innovative, fresh, and engaging menus
- Managing food preparation and presentation to the highest standards
- Controlling food costs, stock levels, ordering, and kitchen budgets
- Monitoring wastage and implementing cost-saving initiatives
- Building strong relationships with customers and stakeholders
- Ensuring full compliance with food safety, health & safety, and company standards
- Driving customer satisfaction through excellent food and service delivery
- Maintaining accurate operational and compliance records
- Supporting continuous improvement and menu development initiatives
About You
To be successful in this role, you'll ideally have:
- Previous experience as a Chef Manager, Catering Manager, or Head Chef within contract catering
- Strong people management and leadership skills
- Demonstrable experience managing kitchen budgets, stock, and food costs
- Excellent culinary and menu development abilities
- A sound understanding of food safety and health & safety regulations
- Experience managing teams in a fast-paced catering environment
- Excellent communication and customer service skills
- A proactive and commercially focused approach
What's in It for You?
Salary of £40,000 per annum, 28 days holiday including bank holidays, your birthday off every year, free meals whilst on shift, enhanced maternity and family leave benefits, 3 paid volunteering days, apprenticeship and development opportunities, pension and life assurance, employee assistance programme, wellbeing support hub, cycle to work scheme, high street, travel and cinema discounts via Perkbox.
Working Pattern
40 hours per week, operational site runs 7 days per week, flexibility to support both day and night shift operations as required.
If you're an experienced Chef Manager with a background in contract catering and are ready to take ownership of a thriving operation, we'd love to hear from you. Please note: Applicants must have previous management experience within a catering environment and be able to commute to Gravesend (DA11) on a daily basis.
Blue Arrow is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to helping find great work opportunities for great people.
Chef Manager in Kent employer: Blue Arrow - Maidstone
As a leading player in the logistics sector, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work environment where innovation thrives. Our employees benefit from comprehensive training programmes, clear career progression paths, and a supportive culture that values teamwork and individual contributions. Located in a vibrant area, our company offers unique advantages such as flexible working arrangements and a strong commitment to employee well-being, making it an excellent choice for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
