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- Tasks: Lead a team to create delicious, nutritious meals while managing the catering operation.
- Company: Join a passionate school catering company focused on high-quality food and community spirit.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, Monday to Friday hours, and opportunities for professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in school kitchens and foster a love for good food among students.
- Qualifications: Culinary experience, strong leadership skills, and a passion for quality food.
- Other info: Fixed-term contract with 39 working weeks per year, perfect for work-life balance.
The predicted salary is between 13 - 16 £ per hour.
As Chef Manager, you will be the point of leadership for your site. This pivotal role demands culinary mastery combined with sharp business acumen. You will place emphasis on delivering the highest quality food and service, leveraging your creative flair, originality, and leadership to make a significant stir in the school catering industry.
Role Responsibility
- Financial Command (P&L): Assume full control of the catering operation, including managing and improving all controllable costs (stock, food, and labour) to ensure maximum profitability.
- Culinary & Menu Excellence: Lead the preparation of delicious, nutritious, high-quality meals utilising our fresh and sustainable ingredients. Oversee and guide continuous menu development.
- Team Leadership & Development: Lead, coach, and motivate all staff, setting a positive tone and guaranteeing a consistently fantastic dining experience for students and staff in line with company standards. Provide outstanding support and guidance to ensure team success.
- Commercial Growth: Actively drive sales and revenue growth through the implementation of effective monthly promotions and added-value events.
- Compliance & Audit: Ensure full compliance with all company systems, procedures, and relevant legislation. Conduct regular operational audits to verify standards are consistently met.
- Client Relations: Build and maintain strong, positive relationships with both clients and customers, acting as the primary representative for Stir on site.
The Ideal Candidate
- We are seeking a proactive leader who balances culinary passion with demonstrated business capability.
- Strong working financial understanding of gross profit management and a track record of achieving demanding sales targets.
- A natural, positive leader with proven experience in managing a team and fostering exceptional teamwork.
- Extensive craft-based experience using fresh ingredients.
- Strong knowledge of all current Health and Safety practices within a professional kitchen environment.
- Possession of an OND or HND Qualification is preferred, but not essential.
Package Description
- At Stir, we give our teams the time, freedom, and tools they need to feel pride in their work every single day!
- You’ll also benefit from a true commitment to work-life balance: Monday to Friday working only—say goodbye to all weekend shifts!
- This position is a fixed-term contract 22.5 hours working with no late nights.
- 39 working weeks per year, structured around the term-time calendar (maximising time with family and friends!).
- £15.50 per hour.
- Join a fast-growing, ambitious company dedicated to supporting your long-term career development.
- Access to our dedicated Learning & Development team for apprenticeships and advanced training courses available to all staff.
Crucial Note: We expect all staff to share our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children/young people. This role requires a mandatory enhanced DBS disclosure. Due to high demand for this key position, the role may be filled before the official closing date.
About the Company
We’re a specialised school catering company with a deep passion for high-quality food, dedicated to fostering a community spirit and driving a mission to instil pride back into school kitchens across the UK. Our success is powered by an exceptional and highly valued team. We boast a diverse range of experts, skills, and abilities, all united by our common goal of creating a significant impact and stirring innovation within education catering. We are committed to maintaining uncompromisingly high standards—both in the culinary excellence of the food we serve and in the professional management and safety of our kitchen environments. This commitment is supported by our dedicated team and reinforced through regular support and targeted training, ensuring our on-site teams possess the precise skills needed to deliver the performance we expect. We actively seek individuals with creative initiative and growth ambition. We offer exciting opportunities designed to attract strategic thinkers and bold movers ready to advance their careers with us. If this vision resonates with you, we encourage you to connect with our team.
Chef Manager in Essex employer: Stirfood
Contact Detail:
Stirfood Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chef Manager in Essex
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the catering industry, attend local food events, and join relevant online groups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your culinary flair! Create a portfolio showcasing your best dishes and menu ideas. When you get the chance to meet potential employers, bring along some photos or even samples of your work to leave a lasting impression.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its values. Be ready to discuss how your leadership style aligns with their mission to deliver high-quality food and service. We want to see your passion for making a difference in school catering!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team and contributing to our mission of stirring innovation in education catering.
We think you need these skills to ace Chef Manager in Essex
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Culinary Passion: When you're writing your application, let your love for cooking shine through! Share your experiences with fresh ingredients and any creative dishes you've crafted. We want to see that spark of originality that makes you stand out.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills: As a Chef Manager, you'll be leading a team, so make sure to showcase your leadership experience. Talk about how you've motivated teams in the past and created a positive work environment. We’re all about teamwork here at StudySmarter!
Demonstrate Financial Savvy: Since managing costs is key in this role, don’t forget to mention your financial understanding. Include any relevant experiences where you’ve successfully managed budgets or improved profitability. We love candidates who can balance creativity with business acumen!
Tailor Your Application: Make your application personal! Use the job description as a guide and tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect how your skills align with what we’re looking for. And remember, applying through our website is the best way to get noticed!
How to prepare for a job interview at Stirfood
✨Know Your Culinary Stuff
Brush up on your culinary skills and be ready to discuss your experience with fresh ingredients. Be prepared to share specific examples of dishes you've created or menus you've developed that showcase your creativity and mastery in the kitchen.
✨Financial Savvy is Key
Since this role involves managing costs and driving profitability, make sure you understand basic financial concepts like P&L statements. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully managed budgets in previous roles and any strategies you've implemented to improve financial performance.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Chef Manager, you'll need to lead a team effectively. Think about your leadership style and be prepared to share examples of how you've motivated and developed your team in the past. Highlight any training or coaching initiatives you've led to foster teamwork and improve service quality.
✨Build Rapport with Clients
Client relations are crucial in this role, so think about how you've built strong relationships in previous positions. Prepare to discuss your approach to client communication and any successful events or promotions you've organised that enhanced customer satisfaction and engagement.
