Regional Relief Chef Manager in Watford

Location: Central - Watford, Milton Keynes and surrounding areas, willing to travel.

Salary: up to £39,000 includes travel paid.

A Regional Relief Chef Manager is required to support in the central region across various locations. This is a great opportunity to create wonderful dishes within an excellent kitchen environment while working with locational team members.

Working hours: Monday to Friday.

• 28 days holiday including bank holidays plus your birthday off.
• 24 weeks enhanced maternity leave.
• Secondary carer leave.
• Wedding/commitment day leave.
• Free meals on shift.
• Bespoke training and development opportunities.
• Apprenticeships opportunities for all experience levels.
• Pension and life insurance.
• Discounts available on our Perkbox app; high street shops, holidays & cinema.
• Access to employee assistance programme.
• Cycle to work scheme.

We are seeking an experienced and professional Regional Relief Chef Manager to join our organisation in Watford and surrounding areas, United Kingdom. In this pivotal relief role, you will provide essential cover and support across our regional kitchen operations at short notice, ensuring consistent culinary excellence and operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities:

• Respond flexibly to operational demands and provide relief cover at short notice across assigned regional locations, maintaining consistent quality standards and operational procedures.
• Lead and manage kitchen teams during relief shifts, providing clear direction and support to ensure smooth operations and team continuity.
• Oversee food preparation, cooking, and plating to ensure compliance with organisational standards and health and safety regulations.
• Conduct quality assurance checks and implement corrective actions to maintain service standards across all relief assignments.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of HACCP procedures and ensure full compliance with food safety legislation at all times.
• Manage kitchen budgets, control costs, and optimise resource allocation during relief periods.
• Conduct staff inductions and provide on-the-job training to support team development and operational continuity.
• Create and manage staff rosters and schedules to ensure adequate coverage and operational efficiency.
• Monitor inventory levels, manage stock rotation, and minimise food waste across multiple sites.
• Liaise with regional management and other kitchen facilities to coordinate operations and share best practice.
• Foster a positive, professional kitchen culture that prioritises safety, quality, and teamwork, even in temporary assignments.

Qualifications:

• Extensive experience as a Chef or Kitchen Manager in high-volume food service environments.
• Proven track record of successfully managing and leading kitchen teams.
• Comprehensive knowledge of food safety, hygiene standards, and HACCP procedures.
• Strong understanding of health and safety regulations within food service operations.
• Excellent organisational and time-keeping skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to work flexibly and adapt to changing operational requirements.
• Strong people skills and the ability to communicate effectively with teams at all levels.
• Experience in budget management and cost control within kitchen operations.
• Proficiency in scheduling and roster management systems.
• Knowledge of multiple cuisine types and cooking techniques (desirable).
• Experience in training and mentoring kitchen staff (desirable).
• Problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to operational challenges.
• Professional approach to health and safety compliance and quality assurance.

BaxterStorey is committed to encouraging equity, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I) among our workforce and aims for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society, and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best.