We have an exciting opportunity to become our new General Kitchen Manager at one of our restaurants in Oakham, LE15 6NY.
This is a permanent position working 40 hours a week. Shifts are on a rota basis between the hours of 7am and 4pm, Monday to Saturday. The proposed start date is 19th October.
Do you love creating stunning restaurant food and are looking for work hours that give you a work-life balance like no other sector in the hospitality industry?
Wilson Vale is an established, quality-led contract caterer. We work with amazing clients across the UK who place huge value on great food as a key part of their culture and community. We work in office restaurants, independent schools and at conference venues with the same high-end ethos throughout.
Our culture unites us. We stand for craft, quality, creative freedom, forward thinking and integrity. We never compromise on our commitment to fresh, seasonal produce and the fantastic people that make it all happen
We are looking for a passionate and food-led General Kitchen Manager with a strong kitchen background to oversee our vibrant catering operation. This is a hands-on role, ideal for a chef or food-focused manager who isn't afraid to roll up their sleeves and work alongside the team to deliver exceptional standards.
Our offer includes breakfast service, homemade cakes and pastries, a hot counter lunch offer, sandwiches, salad bar, and barista coffees, all produced using local award-winning suppliers. The General Kitchen Manager will have the vision and leadership to take ownership of the food and service offering, continuously developing it to ensure quality, consistency, and value for money.
The role requires someone who is commercially minded with the ability to demonstrate a track record of developing efficient and cost-effective processes and that you have first class communication skills and a keen eye for detail.
RESPONSIBILTIES:
* Hands-On Leadership: Lead by example, supporting the team in both kitchen production and front-of-house service
* Food Quality & Development: Work closely with the chefs to deliver innovative, seasonal menus and daily specials, ensuring the offer stays fresh, relevant, and exciting
* Client Relationship Management: Build strong relationships with the client, ensuring clear communication and delivery of agreed expectations
* Team Development: Train, mentor, and inspire staff, instilling high standards in food preparation, service, and customer engagement
* Compliance & Safety: Ensure full compliance with Food Safety, Health & Safety, and company standards at all times, maintaining audit-ready records
* Commercial Focus: Manage budgets, GP, and stock effectively, balancing creativity with commercial awareness
* Continuous Improvement: Actively seek feedback and identify opportunities to evolve the catering offer, from promotions to new service ideas
* Online and social media advertisement management to ensure we expand our customer base
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
* Proven background in kitchens as a chef or kitchen-based manager
* Strong food knowledge with a genuine passion for fresh, seasonal produce
* Comfortable leading from the front, whether cooking on the line or engaging with the client & customers
* Experience in managing and developing teams in a catering or hospitality environment
* Good understanding of compliance, Food Safety, and Health & Safety
* Financial awareness with experience managing budgets and costs
* Energetic, adaptable, and proactive, with the drive to deliver excellence every day
WHAT WE OFFER:
* An opportunity to shape and develop a unique gastro-style food offer
* A company culture that values creativity, quality, and people
* Competitive salary and High benefits package
* Ongoing training and career development opportunities
OUR CULTURE:
* Craft at our core – we pride ourselves on our craft-skilled chefs who create wonderful fresh food from scratch.
* It's all about the food – the menu is the most important document our chefs write every week.
* Quality, seasonal ingredients – 300+ British suppliers and our chefs can source locally.
* Freedom to create – our teams love to cook up exciting food themes and pop-ups to keep the food fun.
* Support like no other – our business was founded by family and we have stayed true to those same family values of nurturing development, protecting our values and building trust and loyalty.
* Making food that not only tastes great but is good for the planet. We have always had a strong environmental ethos and are dedicated to our social and environmental commitments.
* We believe in tailored training and opportunities to build your career with us.
WILSON VALE PERKS:
* Our working hours are some of the best you'll find in catering - we are strong believers in work-life balance
* Our working environment is fun and inspiring, with excellent career development opportunities
* Craft Works – Free craft-focused career development training programme
* Paid training bespoke to you
* Access to our Employee Assistance Programme- your wellbeing is very important to us
* Online employee benefits scheme - monetary savings on everyday items
* Your Birthday off every year after 1 years' service.
* Enhanced Maternity Pay
Wilson Vale is an equal opportunities employer that strives to create an inclusive working environment for all. We are committed to supporting our people and do not tolerate discrimination of any kind. From each and every person in our catering teams, to our operations and central support teams – everyone at has a voice.