Chef Manager – Whittlesey, Peterborough

Salary: Up to £30,342 per annum, depending on experience

Working Pattern: Predominantly Monday to Friday, approximately 8am–4pm. As the wider operation runs around the clock, we’re looking for someone flexible enough to occasionally visit and support teams working nights or weekends when required.

Are you a hands-on Chef Manager who loves being in the kitchen, leading from the front and creating great food?

We’re looking for an experienced Chef Manager to lead a busy workplace catering operation in Whittlesey. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who wants real ownership of their kitchen and team.

You’ll be joining an established operation where the immediate focus is on consistency, team engagement and building strong relationships. We need someone who can bring positive leadership, stability and high standards while getting stuck into the day-to-day food operation.

You’ll manage a staff restaurant within a 24/7 operational environment, typically serving around 80 to 100 customers per sitting, alongside vending and additional hospitality requirements.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll take responsibility for the overall catering operation, including:

• Being hands-on in the kitchen every day, cooking and supporting service
• Leading, motivating and developing a team of approximately 8 colleagues
• Delivering consistently high-quality food across breakfast, lunch and other service periods
• Managing menus, allergens and food safety compliance
• Taking ownership of ordering, stock control, portion control and food costs
• Ensuring consistently high standards of presentation, quality and service
• Building strong day-to-day relationships with the onsite client and customers
• Increasing engagement and encouraging more customers to use the restaurant
• Supporting hospitality and events when required
• Completing the management and administration required to run an effective catering operation
• Leading by example and creating a positive, supportive environment for your team

What we’re looking for

• Previous Chef Manager or Head Chef-level experience, with around 3+ years in a similar role
• Strong hands-on culinary skills and a genuine passion for food
• Experience within contract catering, or relevant experience from a high-quality restaurant or pub environment
• Good knowledge of menu planning, allergens and food safety
• Experience managing ordering, stock and food costs
• Strong IT and administrative skills
• The confidence to lead and develop a team
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build relationships at all levels
• A proactive, positive and empathetic leadership style

We would also consider an experienced Assistant Manager or senior chef ready to step into a Chef Manager position, provided you have the right culinary, operational and people-management experience.

Why this role?

This is a role where you can make a genuine impact. We’re looking for someone who wants to take ownership, bring people together and create an operation that both the team and customers can be proud of.

If you’re a hands-on chef, a strong people leader and someone who leads from the front, we’d love to hear from you.

Job Reference: com/1211/41582001/52732645/SU #14Forty

Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!