Houston & Hawkes | Stevenage (SG1) | £41,000 per annum | Monday to Friday
Overview
Houston & Hawkes is seeking a hands-on Chef Manager to lead a small, high-quality café operation in Stevenage. Based within a professional client environment, this site offers freshly made sandwiches, daily bistro-style dishes, hospitality catering, baking and barista coffee. The role emphasises quality, consistency and a personal touch, with involvement from food preparation and service to leading a small team and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations. This position provides autonomy, creativity and a strong work-life balance within a Monday to Friday structure.
The Role
* Leading a small café and hospitality operation with full ownership of standards
* Preparing fresh, high-quality food including sandwiches, daily bistro dishes and baking
* Supporting hospitality requests and client catering needs
* Overseeing barista service and supporting the coffee bar when required
* Managing stock, ordering and day-to-day kitchen operations
* Monitoring food quality, consistency and presentation
* Maintaining excellent hygiene, food safety and compliance standards
* Supporting and developing a small, close-knit team
About You
* Experience managing a café, kitchen or small food operation
* Confident leading a small team in a hands-on environment
* Passion for fresh food, coffee and customer experience
* Flexible and willing to support all areas of the operation, including barista service
* Organised, reliable and proactive in approach
* Experience With Stock Control, Purchasing And Budgeting Preferred
* Level 3 Food Safety desirable (training can be provided)
What We Offer
* £41,000 per annum
* Monday to Friday — excellent work-life balance
* 40 hours per week
* Free meals at work
* Contributory pension and life assurance (2× salary)
* Employee Assistance Programme
* Day off on your birthday
* Recognition schemes and people awards
* Training, development and progression opportunities
* Membership of CODE Hospitality
About Houston & Hawkes
Houston & Hawkes is an award-winning independent caterer, ranked among the Top 30 Best Companies to Work for in Hospitality and a certified B Corp. We are passionate about delivering vibrant, creative and sustainable food — and we invest in the talented people who make it happen. A perfect role for a Chef Manager who enjoys quality food, a close-knit team and a well-balanced working week.
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