Head Chef Live-In Available
Salary: £35,000 per annum
Hours: 42 hours per week, 5 days out of 7
Accommodation: Self-catering live-in available
Location: High-volume residential site
Requirement: Must be willing to undergo an Enhanced DBS check
Overview
Off to Work are recruiting for an experienced and driven Head Chef to lead a busy catering operation within a residential environment. This is an excellent opportunity for a confident kitchen leader to take ownership of a high-volume site, delivering consistently high-quality meals while maintaining exceptional standards of food safety, hygiene, and team performance.
You will oversee the entire kitchen operation, ensuring the delivery of nutritious, appetising meals, while managing and developing a team to achieve excellence in service and efficiency.
The Role
Leading a team of 56 chefs, you will be responsible for delivering catering for students and adults at a large activity centre. The kitchen produces in excess of 1,200 meals per day, requiring strong leadership, organisation, and the ability to perform consistently in a fast-paced environment.
Key responsibilities include:
Leading, motivating, and developing the kitchen team to maintain high performance
Overseeing the preparation and delivery of high-quality meals at scale
Ensuring compliance with all food safety, allergen, and hygiene standards
Managing stock control, ordering, and kitchen budgets effectively
Maintaining organised, well-stocked kitchen stores
Completing and overseeing all due diligence and compliance documentation
Driving a positive kitchen culture and maintaining high operational standards
Candidate Requirements
Proven experience in a Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef role
Strong background in high-volume environments such as schools, hospitals, or contract catering
Level 2 Food Safety qualification (Level 3 desirable)
Excellent understanding of allergen management and food compliance
Demonstrable experience in leading and developing kitchen teams
Strong organisational and time management skills
Confident communicator with a hands-on leadership style
Competent IT skills (e.g. email, spreadsheets, kitchen systems)
Desirable Experience
Experience within a residential or education-based catering setting
Experience working with children or young people
Previous responsibility for menu planning and cost control
Personal Qualities
Strong leader with a proactive and solution-focused approach
Highly organised with the ability to prioritise effectively under pressure
Passionate about food quality and customer satisfaction
Positive, adaptable, and resilient in a fast-paced environment
Supportive and collaborative team player
Committed to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and professional workplace
Additional Information
An Enhanced DBS check is required (provided)
Flexibility is essential to meet the demands of a residential setting
Responsibilities may evolve in line with operational requirements
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