Head Chef in Leicester

ROLE: Head Chef LOCATION: Leicester HOURS: Full-Time | Permanent SALARY: £30,000 - £35,000 Frontline Recruitment is recruiting on behalf of our client for an experienced and passionate Head Chef to join its growing food manufacturing team in Leicester. The successful candidate will take responsibility for kitchen operations, food preparation, recipe consistency, product quality, and supporting the production team. The role is hands-on and would suit an experienced Head Chef, Sous Chef, Development Chef, Production Chef, or similar professional looking to develop their career within food manufacturing. BENEFITS * Permanent, full-time position * Opportunity to join an established and growing food manufacturing business * Hands-on Head Chef position with responsibility for food quality and production * Opportunity to contribute to recipe and product development * Full training provided on company-specific manufacturing systems and processes THE ROLE * Leading, supervising, and supporting the kitchen and production team to ensure consistently high standards. * Preparing, cooking, and developing recipes in accordance with company specifications. * Ensuring recipes, ingredients, portion sizes, cooking methods, and production processes are followed accurately. * Supporting the development, testing, and improvement of new and existing food products. * Maintaining consistency in flavour, texture, appearance, portion control, and overall product quality. * Monitoring ingredient quality, stock levels, usage, storage, and waste. * Overseeing daily food preparation and production to ensure requirements and deadlines are achieved. * Carrying out quality checks on ingredients, food preparation, and finished products. * Maintaining excellent standards of food hygiene, kitchen hygiene, and personal hygiene. * Ensuring food safety, allergen, HACCP, health and safety, and company procedures are followed at all times. * Training, mentoring, and supporting members of the kitchen and production team. * Working closely with management and the wider production team to identify improvements and resolve quality or production issues. * Supporting product trials and ensuring products meet required specifications before production. * Handling and tasting food products as an essential part of the role, subject to religious beliefs. * Working flexibly and supporting overtime requirements during busy production periods. * Ensuring the kitchen and production areas remain clean, organised, safe, and compliant with company standards. THE REQUIREMENTS * Previous experience as a Head Chef, Sous Chef, Development Chef, Production Chef, or similar senior culinary professional. * Strong professional cooking and food preparation experience. * Experience within food manufacturing, production kitchens, bakeries, or a similar environment is desirable. * Strong knowledge of food safety, hygiene, allergens, HACCP, and safe food handling procedures. * Experience developing, following, and maintaining recipes and food specifications. * Excellent understanding of quality, consistency, portion control, and food preparation standards. * Excellent communication skills with the ability to work independently and as part of a team. * Flexible approach to working hours and willingness to undertake overtime when required. * Ability and willingness to work with and taste a wide range of food products as required by the role, subject to religious beliefs. WORKING HOURS Flexibility regarding overtime during busy production periods will be required. Frontline Recruitment is an equal opportunities employer and acts as an employment agency for this vacancy. We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. If you do not hear from us within two weeks, unfortunately your application has not been successful on this occasion