Chef Manager

We have an exciting opportunity to become our new Chef Manager at one of our independent schools in Sheffield.

This is a permanent position working 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday, 7am to 3:30pm.

Do you love creating stunning restaurant food and are looking for work hours that give you a work-life balance like no other sector in the hospitality industry?

Wilson Vale is an established, quality-led contract caterer. We work with amazing clients across the UK who place huge value on great food as a key part of their culture and community. We work in office restaurants, independent schools and at conference venues with the same high-end ethos throughout.

Our culture unites us. We stand for craft, quality, creative freedom, forward thinking and integrity. We never compromise on our commitment to fresh, seasonal produce and the fantastic people that make it all happen!

The Chef Manager is responsible for overseeing the full operations of the Catering Department, ensuring the delivery of exceptional food, service, and hospitality. This role combines hands-on culinary expertise with strong leadership and administrative skills to maintain the highest standards in food quality, safety, and customer experience.

As Chef Manager, you will oversee the day-to-day running of the Catering Department, ensuring the highest standards in menu planning, food preparation, and presentation. You will take responsibility for creating imaginative menus that make use of fresh ingredients, while maintaining strict compliance with health, safety, and hygiene regulations.

In addition to leading from the kitchen, you will manage and train a team of six, providing guidance, motivation, and support to deliver consistently high-quality service. You will also oversee administration, including ordering, stock control, budgeting, and security of supplies, while ensuring excellent customer relations and a positive dining experience. Creativity, strong leadership, and sound operational control are essential to success in this role.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Be responsible for the daily operation of the kitchen and the preparation and cooking of all food production
• Cater to the needs of all customers
• Be responsible, dedicated and a strong leader with the ability to assist and manage a team
• Deliver consistent food standards following the Wilson Vale brand standards.
• Deliver fresh, seasonal and innovative food from around the world to all customers
• Responsible for food safety, hygiene and Health and Safety both in practice and keeping relevant records
• Allergy reporting and responsibility for sign-posting to customers
• Budgeting, ordering, stock taking
• Training

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Proven experience as a Chef Manager, Head Chef, or in a similar leadership role within premium hospitality.
• Strong culinary background with a passion for fresh, high-quality food and knowledge of current food trends.
• Love of food and genuine enthusiasm for working as part of a team.
• Excellent customer service and strong communication skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with clients, customers, and colleagues.
• Strong leadership skills with experience in training, motivating, and developing a team.
• Ability to thrive in a high-pressure environment while remaining proactive, reliable, and well organised.
• Financial and administrative awareness, including ordering, budgeting, and stock control.
• Exceptional presentation skills, with an eye for detail in both food and service.
• Creative and innovative approach to menu planning, presentation, and service delivery.
• Good local knowledge and experience working in the area (advantageous).
• Articulate, professional, and passionate about delivering outstanding service every time.

OUR CULTURE:

• Craft at our core – we pride ourselves on our craft-skilled chefs who create wonderful fresh food from scratch.
• It’s all about the food – the menu is the most important document our chefs write every week.
• Quality, seasonal ingredients – 300+ British suppliers and our chefs can source locally.
• Freedom to create – our teams love to cook up exciting food themes and pop-ups to keep the food fun.
• Support like no other – our business was founded by family and we have stayed true to those same family values of nurturing development, protecting our values and building trust and loyalty.
• Making food that not only tastes great but is good for the planet. We have always had a strong environmental ethos and are dedicated to our social and environmental commitments.
• We believe in tailored training and opportunities to build your career with us.

WILSON VALE PERKS:

• Our working hours are some of the best you\\\’ll find in catering – we are strong believers in work-life balance
• Our working environment is fun and inspiring, with excellent career development opportunities
• Craft Works – Free craft-focused career development training programme
• Paid training bespoke to you
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme- your wellbeing is very important to us
• Online employee benefits scheme -monetary savings on everyday items!
• Your Birthday off every year after 1 years’ service.
• Enhanced Maternity Pay

Wilson Vale is an equal opportunities employer that strives to create an inclusive working environment for all. We are committed to supporting our people and do not tolerate discrimination of any kind. From each and every person in our catering teams, to our operations and central support teams – everyone at has a voice.