Salary: £13–£14 per hour (depending on experience)
Hours: Minimum 35 per week, typically 8:30am–5:00pm including weekends (with occasional evening/event work)
Location: Land of Oak and Iron Heritage Centre, Winlaton Mill, Gateshead
About Us Our café is a vibrant, welcoming space where we serve delicious food and drinks to our loyal customers. We pride ourselves on being a close-knit team of friendly and kind individuals who make every customer feel special. The café has become a local favourite, and we’re proud to see so many return customers who value our high-quality service. All the profits from our café go towards supporting the fantastic charity, Groundwork Northeast and Cumbria, which helps improve communities and the environment.
We’re looking for a skilled and proactive Lead Chef to run the kitchen, this is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys creating good quality food using fresh, local ingredients. You’ll be hands-on with everything from designing menus and cooking, to managing stock, compliance, and kitchen rotas. All with the support of a friendly, dedicated team.
With regular daytime hours usually 8:30am–5:00pm (kitchen operating 9:00am–3:00pm), this role offers a rare work-life balance in catering, with no late-night shifts and only occasional evening catering for events.
What you’ll do:
1. Plan and develop fresh, seasonal menus (breakfasts, lunches, cakes, children’s meals and event specials)
2. Prepare and cook food to order, ensuring quality, consistency, and speed of service
3. Manage stock, suppliers and budgets
4. Maintain high standards of hygiene, food safety, and allergen management
5. Create and oversee kitchen rotas, including support from casual staff and volunteers
6. Cater for occasional evening events and contribute to seasonal offers
7. Work closely with the café and visitor centre team to deliver a great experience for all visitors
What We Offer:
· Excellent work-life balance – typically 8:30am–5:00pm shifts, with the kitchen operational 9:00am–3:00pm
· No regular evening work – only occasional event catering with advance notice
· Staff discounts in the café and shop
· Supportive, friendly team environment within a beautiful riverside heritage setting
· Opportunity to be creative and shape the kitchen offer
· A role that contributes to sustainability, local heritage and community engagement
About you:
You’ll be an organised, creative, and hands-on chef or cook, confident in managing a kitchen and leading by example. You’ll take pride in producing quality well presented food and enjoy the buzz of working in a busy café environment.