We're looking for an ambitious, creative Head Chef with an eye for detail and a passion for locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. At our award‑winning Visitor Centre in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, you'll create inspiring menus that showcase our cheeses and celebrate the best local produce. You'll join a passionate, creative team committed to quality and continuous improvement. This is a hands‑on role for an experienced Head Chef who can lead and develop a team, thrive in a fast‑paced kitchen and consistently deliver high standards. Working with the senior management team, you'll oversee smooth kitchen operations, develop new products and menus, and deliver agreed margins and budgets. You'll create an outstanding guest experience while motivating your team and building a positive, energetic kitchen culture. You'll lead the day‑to‑day running of our kitchens, creating an exceptional catering offer using Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese and seasonal local produce, while maintaining high standards, budgets and health and safety compliance.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS OPPORTUNTY
- No split shifts or nights, every other weekend off, Christmas, Boxing Day & New Years Day off
- Working with delicious local produce, and freshly making every dish
- Fantastic opportunity for creativity, innovation, and progression
- A modern professional kitchen with the latest equipment
- Working with an amazing team, in an environment where everyone is passionate about our brand
YOU'LL MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT MATTER BY…
- Being aware of current market trends
- Working in conjunction with the management team to develop menus,
- products and packages
- Supporting the development of special events and marketing promotional calendar
- Setting standardised recipes for the whole team to follow
- Ensuring quality standards are maintained throughout service by the whole team
- Ensuring strict portion control is always adhered to by the team
- Issuing tasks to the team
- Ensuring the relevant food offers are ready for business by the allocated time
- Dealing with Customer Complaints in a professional proactive manner
- Communicating Customer feedback to the team daily
- Completing weekly rotas in line with VC budget and business requirements
- Ensuring adequate stock levels are maintained to support the business
- Ensuring company GP targets are achieved
- Adhering to and auditing all HACCP / H&S / procedural requirements
- Maintaining exceptional cleaning standards
- Supporting the VC Director with compilation of departmental budgets
- Providing menu costings for all dishes and updating market price increases as required
- Submitting Purchase Orders / Invoices / delivery notes to the VC administrator as per company procedure
- Identifying margin opportunities
- Running stock take in line with company procedure
- Ensuring appropriate security of stock
- Locking up facilities in line with Company security instructions
- Supporting team recruitment activities as required
- Inducting all new kitchen staff members
- Developing the kitchen team
- Delivering appropriate training in line with the training plan
- Ensuring clear communication with the catering team
- Acting as a role model, demonstrating company values and inspiring the team with enthusiasm and professionalism
- Managing team holiday requests with the Operations Manager
Have a minimum of 2 years experience at Head Chef level, working in a similar fast paced environment - Are results driven
- Lead people towards the company vision, goals and agreed targets
- Communicate effectively
- Build and maintain relationships
- Manage conflict and crisis
- Act decisively
- Demonstrate resilience and flexibility
- Pay good attention to detail
- Drive changeWork on your own initiative
- Think systematically and inspire continuous improvement
- Contribute your own views and listen to the views of others
We support employment equity. Saputo strives to embed diversity and inclusion in its operations and invites candidates from all horizons to join our team., In the UK, Saputo is a producer of leading British food brands and value-added ingredients. We manufacture a range of cheeses, dairy spreads, and dairy-free products, with a portfolio of well‑loved brands including Cathedral City, Clover, Country Life, Frylight and Wensleydale.
Whether your expertise lies in manufacturing, operations, supply chain, sales, quality assurance, or in any other function, your role is integral to our success. You will make contributions that matter, all while working alongside colleagues who genuinely care about your success and who will roll up their sleeves to help.
- Working 5 days per week out of 7 with every other weekend off
- Inclusive working environment
- Opportunities for progression
- Employer pension contributions
- Health cash plan
- Access to the Thrive wellbeing app 24-hours a day
- Discounted SDUK branded products
- Free, onsite parking
- 25 holidays + 8 bank holidays
- One paid workday a year to volunteer for a local community or charitable institutions of your choice
- My Staff Shop - access to exclusive benefits, free advice and savings - providing great discounts from thousands of the UKs largest retailers & service providers
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Head Chef employer: Saputo, Inc.
Saputo is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture at the Wensleydale Creamery site in Hawes, where teamwork and adherence to high standards are paramount. Employees benefit from a competitive package and opportunities for growth within a company that values health, safety, and quality in dairy production. The unique early shift pattern allows for a better work-life balance, making it an attractive option for those seeking meaningful employment in the food production industry.
