Chef Manager Working Pattern: 5/7, based on 40 hours per week
Lexington is an award-winning contract caterer that focus on providing great food and service to customers. To do this we need fabulous people and we work hard to create an environment where our team members feel engaged, inspired, valued and enjoy what they do. Brilliant Work Deserves Brilliant Perks!
At Lexington, we believe that when you love where you work, it shows. Thats why we make sure our team feels appreciated, supported, and set up for success! Heres whats waiting for you:
Free, tasty meals - Enjoy tasty, nutritious food on us while you work!
Flexible working - including part time roles, because life doesnt run on a 9-5 schedule.
Plenty of Time to Unwind - 28 days of holiday, and after two years, enjoy even more with 31 days.
Leave for lifes important moments - whether family, personal or unexpected.
Give back time - paid volunteering days for the causes you care about.
Room to grow - career development and learning opportunities for all stages of your career.
Wellbeing first - mental health support and wellbeing perks.
Financial security - pension schemes and life assurance.
Exclusive discounts - save on entertainment, leisure, and even travel!
Key Responsibilities:
Operational Management:
Take ownership of the day-to-day catering operation on site.
Plan daily food production in line with pupil numbers, staff feeding, hospitality, events and agreed service levels.
Ensure breakfast, lunch, supper, hospitality, events and boarding provision, where required, are delivered to the agreed standard.
Oversee service periods, ensuring food availability, presentation, replenishment, queue management and customer experience are maintained.
Organise daily team deployment across preparation, service, cleaning, hospitality and other site requirements.
Maintain high standards of food quality, presentation, service, cleanliness and organisation.
Plan effectively for school events, theme days, open days, hospitality and changing client needs.
Escalate operational issues, risks or concerns to the Operations Manager promptly.
Food, Kitchen and Compliance:
Lead food production and maintain strong culinary standards.
Ensure menus, recipes, allergens, special diets and portion controls are followed.
Maintain all required food safety, health and safety, allergen and cleaning records.
Work in line with school safeguarding expectations and report any concerns through the correct process.
Financial and Accounts Control:
Manage site-level financial performance in line with budget.
Control food cost, labour cost, stock, sundries and hospitality spend.
Support the Operations Manager with budget reviews, forecasting and site financial reporting where required.
Client and Lexington Relationship:
Act as the day-to-day contact for the client on site.
Act as the key link between the site team, client and Lexington support teams.
Support Lexington initiatives, audits, reporting and service improvements.
Communicate site updates, risks, successes and support needs clearly to the Operations Manager.
Hospitality, Events and Boarding:
Take ownership of hospitality delivery, ensuring requests are planned, costed and delivered professionally.
Maintain clear hospitality records and backup for charging and client visibility.
Support school events, theme days, open days, parent evenings and food engagement activities as required.
People Management:
Lead, motivate and support the catering team.
Organise the team effectively across kitchen production, service, cleaning, hospitality and boarding where required.
Support training, onboarding, probation reviews and team development.
The Chef Manager should demonstrate:
Previous experience as a Chef Manager, Head Chef, Catering Manager or similar.
Strong culinary skills and confidence leading a busy kitchen.
Experience managing a catering team in a school, contract catering, hospitality or similar environment.
Good understanding of food safety, allergens, health and safety and compliance.
Experience managing stock, ordering, budgets, food cost and waste.
Strong people management and communication skills.
Confident using company systems, email and basic reporting tools.
Flexibility Statement:
Because of the changing nature of our business, this job description may change from time to time. You may be required to undertake other duties of a similar nature that fall within your capabilities and are reasonably requested by management.
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