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- Tasks: Lead a team to create delicious meals and manage two bustling cafés.
- Company: Join Leeds City College, dedicated to enhancing student experiences.
- Benefits: Enjoy 44 days of annual leave and a great work-life balance.
- Other info: Work Monday to Friday with occasional evening or weekend shifts.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in students' lives through food and service.
- Qualifications: Experience in catering, team leadership, and food safety knowledge required.
The predicted salary is between 32068 - 35036 £ per year.
Leeds City College is seeking a talented Senior Chef to join our Food Services and Catering team, playing a key role at the heart of the student experience. We are committed to creating an environment that supports a better future through positive, inspiring actions that make a real difference.
In this role, you will be responsible for preparing a variety of fresh, nutritious meals that appeal to both students and staff, while consistently delivering an excellent standard of service. This is a hands-on position, requiring you to lead and support a team of food service assistants across two cafés, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations. This opportunity is ideal for someone looking for a rewarding and challenging role within a supportive environment. The position offers a great work-life balance, with Monday to Friday daytime hours and only occasional evening or weekend work.
What You Will Do
- Manage two onsite cafés, delivering a consistently high-quality food and customer service experience
- Prepare and cook fresh, nutritious meals while developing innovative menus that meet customer needs
- Oversee budgets, purchasing, stock control, and financial processes to achieve GP targets
- Lead, train, and motivate the catering team, managing staffing matters effectively
- Ensure compliance with food safety, HACCP, and hygiene standards while supporting events and wider catering operations
About You
- Proven experience within the catering and hospitality sector, including cooking in a commercial kitchen
- Experience managing refectory or canteen-style operations, ideally across multiple outlets
- Strong track record of producing a wide variety of food to a high standard
- Experience leading teams, with a focus on training and staff development
- Knowledge of food cost control, stock management, and GP margins
- Understanding of food hygiene systems, due diligence, and compliance requirements
- Holds a Level 2 Food Safety Certificate
Benefits
The group offers a range of excellent benefits, including annual leave: Curriculum and Management: 44 days plus.
Senior Chef Manager, Leeds employer: Luminate Education Group
Contact Detail:
Luminate Education Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Chef Manager, Leeds
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the catering and hospitality sector. Attend local events or workshops where you can meet potential employers and showcase your passion for food service.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you get the chance, offer to do a trial shift or a cooking demonstration. This gives you the opportunity to impress them with your culinary talents and team leadership abilities.
✨Tip Number 3
Be prepared for the interview! Research Leeds City College and their food services. Think about how your experience aligns with their mission and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their student experience.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Chef Manager, Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food: When writing your application, let your love for cooking and creating delicious meals shine through. Share specific examples of dishes you've prepared or innovative menus you've developed to show us how you can bring that passion to our cafés.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills: As a Senior Chef Manager, you'll be leading a team, so make sure to emphasise your experience in training and motivating staff. We want to see how you've successfully managed teams in the past and how you plan to inspire our food service assistants.
Be Detail-Oriented: Pay attention to the details in your application. Mention your knowledge of food safety standards and compliance requirements, as well as your experience with budgeting and stock control. This will show us that you're not just a great cook, but also a savvy manager.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it shows us you're keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Luminate Education Group
✨Know Your Menu
Before the interview, take some time to research and think about innovative menu ideas that could appeal to students and staff. Be ready to discuss your culinary creativity and how you can adapt meals to meet diverse dietary needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led a team in a busy kitchen environment. Think about specific challenges you've faced and how you motivated your team to deliver excellent service under pressure.
✨Understand Food Safety Standards
Brush up on your knowledge of food safety, HACCP, and hygiene standards. Be prepared to discuss how you ensure compliance in your kitchen and how you would train your team to maintain these standards.
✨Demonstrate Financial Acumen
Familiarise yourself with budgeting, stock control, and GP margins. Be ready to talk about how you've managed costs in previous roles and how you plan to achieve financial targets in this position.