At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to deliver top-notch catering for a retirement housing scheme.
- Company: Join a caring organisation focused on providing excellent service to residents aged 55+.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, flexible working, and a generous health allowance.
- Other info: Great opportunity for career growth and personal development in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in residents' lives while developing your culinary leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in catering for large volumes and strong organisational skills required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 € per year.
We have a fantastic new job opportunity for a Kitchen Manager / Catering Manager / Head Chef with experience of cooking / catering for large volumes, excellent time management and organisational skills. You will be responsible for leading and delivering a first‑class end‑to‑end catering service for a retirement housing scheme that accounts for 47 self‑contained apartments for residents aged 55+. This role involves both hands‑on preparation and cooking, as well as ownership of the back‑office compliance, administration and audit tasks.
DUTIES
- Preparation, cooking and serving of meals, meeting company and environmental health standards.
- Take responsibility for particular dietary and cultural needs and cook specific meals as per the resident food profile so that residents’ preferences are met.
- Complete all menu tick sheets, cleaning records and handover sheets daily, record meals sold and report resident feedback to the catering manager.
- Issue resident catering invoices, respond to resident queries regarding payments and accrued arrears.
- Carry out Health & Safety & Food Hygiene standards checks as directed by company catering standards and ensure all practices meet statutory regulations, including the Registered Homes Act 1984 and the a2dominion Health & Safety policy.
- Prepare and respond to inspections and audits by external authorities and other bodies and fulfill reporting requirements.
- Lead and support a small, dedicated team of colleagues, allocating duties and ensuring work is completed in a timely manner.
- Manage recruitment, probation, development, absence, staff behaviours and employment lifecycle for the team.
- Own ordering, stock control, deliveries, agency workers time‑keeping and maintain the standards set by the catering manager.
CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS
- Previous experience as a Chef Manager / Cook Manager / Sous Chef / Second Chef / Senior Sous Chef or similar.
- Ideally you will have a catering/cooking qualification and/or experience working in a care and support environment, or cooking experience for large volumes of people.
- Excellent time‑management and organisational skills for running a smooth, effective catering service for residents.
- A passion for leading a team, whether you have prior experience or are looking to take the next step in your career.
- Comfortable in taking ownership of back‑office administration and documentation using basic Microsoft applications (Excel, Word, Teams, Outlook).
- Excellent English verbal and written communication skills.
BENEFITS
- 25 days’ holiday (plus bank holidays) increasing up to 28 days with 3 years of service.
- Up to 8% contributory pension.
- Flexible working.
- Investment in your learning and development.
- A generous annual allowance of up to £300 to use towards health and lifestyle benefits for both you and your family.
- Cycle to Work Scheme, whereby employees have access to cycling equipment throughout the year and can pay via monthly salary deductions.
Kitchen Manager / Catering Manager / Head Chef in Norwich employer: Whatsoninreading
Join a supportive and dynamic team as a Kitchen Manager / Catering Manager / Head Chef, where your culinary skills will shine in a vibrant retirement housing scheme. With a strong focus on employee growth, we offer 25 days of holiday, a generous pension scheme, and investment in your professional development, all within a culture that values teamwork and resident satisfaction. Enjoy the unique advantage of working in a fulfilling environment that prioritises health and lifestyle benefits for you and your family.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Kitchen Manager / Catering Manager / Head Chef in Norwich
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the catering and hospitality industry. Attend local events or join online groups where you can meet people who might know about job openings. Remember, sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you can, create a portfolio showcasing your culinary creations or any successful catering events you've managed. This visual evidence can really make you stand out during interviews and give potential employers a taste of what you can bring to their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by researching the company and its values. Think about how your experience aligns with their mission, especially in catering for specific dietary needs. Tailoring your responses to reflect their goals will show that you’re genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities waiting for talented individuals like you. Plus, applying directly can sometimes give you an edge over other candidates. So, get your application in and let’s get you that dream job!
We think you need these skills to ace Kitchen Manager / Catering Manager / Head Chef in Norwich
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your previous roles in catering or kitchen management. We want to see how your experience aligns with the responsibilities of leading a team and cooking for large volumes.
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic CV! Tailor your application to reflect the specific skills and experiences mentioned in the job description. This shows us you’re genuinely interested in the role.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that are easy to read, so avoid long-winded sentences and stick to the essentials.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently, plus you’ll find all the details you need about the role there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Whatsoninreading
✨Know Your Menu Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you’re familiar with various dietary needs and preferences. Research common meal options for retirement housing schemes and be ready to discuss how you would cater to specific cultural or dietary requirements.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Be prepared to talk about your experience leading a team. Share specific examples of how you've managed staff, allocated duties, and ensured timely completion of tasks. Highlight any training or development initiatives you've implemented.
✨Demonstrate Your Organisational Prowess
Since this role involves back-office compliance and administration, come equipped with examples of how you’ve successfully managed stock control, invoicing, and health & safety checks in previous roles. This will show you can handle the administrative side as well as the cooking.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills. Think of scenarios where you had to deal with unexpected challenges in the kitchen, such as dietary restrictions or staffing issues, and how you resolved them effectively.
