Kitchen Manager in City of London

About Calo: Calo is an app providing personalized meal plans for busy people through nutritional algorithms, built with love by chefs, nutritionists, and software engineers. Launched in Bahrain in 2019, we have since expanded to 6 countries, delivered millions of meals to our customers, and launched our very own Grab & Go Cafe concepts. We’re on a noble mission to make healthy easy.

Role Overview: As a Kitchen Manager for Calo’s UK operations, you will take full ownership of day-to-day kitchen activities and production flow on the ground. Working closely with the Senior Operations Manager, you will lead from the front, ensuring the kitchen runs smoothly, efficiently, and to the highest culinary standards. This is a hands-on leadership role, where you’ll be directly involved in managing kitchen staff, overseeing daily production, and setting the tone for a high-performance, disciplined, and positive kitchen culture.

Main Responsibilities:

• Be present on the kitchen floor daily to manage and direct production flow, resolve bottlenecks, and ensure team coordination across stations.
• Set and enforce a high standard of food quality, consistency, and presentation in line with Calo’s brand and operational goals.
• Lead and motivate the kitchen team by example, actively maintaining a positive, respectful, and high-performance kitchen culture.
• Ensure staff are operating efficiently, staying on task, and adhering to production schedules.
• Continuously monitor and adjust kitchen processes to ensure timely delivery, minimal waste, and maximum output.
• Conduct regular quality checks during live production and adjust processes or provide feedback as needed.
• Implement and oversee strict compliance with food safety and hygiene standards (HACCP, ISO, and local regulations).
• Conduct routine safety and cleanliness inspections, taking swift corrective action when necessary.
• Train and mentor team members, upskilling cooks and junior chefs, and ensuring standard operating procedures are followed.
• Oversee kitchen resource planning, including staffing, scheduling, and section rotations.
• Collaborate with other departments (e.g., Dispatch, Supply Chain, QA, Food Development) to ensure seamless kitchen integration and output.
• Control kitchen stock levels, support inventory planning, and work to reduce overproduction and waste.
• Support the launch and integration of new menu items into production with minimal disruption.

Ideal Candidate Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts, Food Science, or related field (preferred).
• 4–5 years of experience in a senior kitchen role such as Sous Chef or Head Chef in a high-output production kitchen or hotel environment.
• Strong knowledge of UK food safety standards, HACCP, and ISO practices.
• Currently based in the UK.

Knowledge & Competency:

• Deep expertise in professional cooking, production kitchen workflows, and food preparation methods.
• Proven ability to lead, inspire, and manage large kitchen teams under pressure.
• Strong problem-solving skills, especially in high-volume service settings.
• Skilled in inventory control, cost-conscious kitchen management, and performance reporting.
• Technically proficient with Excel/Google Sheets and kitchen scheduling or inventory tools.

Personality:

• Hands-on, proactive, and highly visible leader in the kitchen.
• Calm under pressure and assertive when needed, with a strong sense of accountability.
• Energetic team motivator who creates a culture of trust, discipline, and continuous improvement.
• Strong communicator who provides clear guidance and constructive feedback.
• Passionate about food and operational excellence.