Chef Manager Garden Centre Restaurant & Outdoor Café Location: Hockley Overview Were working with one of the UKs leading garden centre groups, ranked 7th nationally and known for combining quality horticulture with exceptional leisure and dining experiences. Due to continued growth, were looking for an experienced Head Chef / Chef Manager to lead the kitchen and food service operations across a popular 150 - cover restaurant, coffee shop, and outdoor dining area. This is a fantastic opportunity for a hands - on culinary leader who thrives in a fast - paced catering environment, values fresh and locally sourced ingredients, and enjoys motivating a loyal, dedicated team. The Role As Head Chef / Chef Manager, you will oversee the day - to - day running of all food service areas, ensuring consistently high standards of food quality, presentation, and customer experience. You ll lead from the front, managing kitchen operations, supporting front - of - house teams, and maintaining a smooth, efficient service throughout the day. Key Skills & Experience Proven catering management experience, ideally within a retail or high - volume environment Level 3 certificate in Food Safety & Hygiene Background in delivering high - quality dishes at scale Strong understanding of stock control, GP management, cost control, budgeting, and waste reduction Excellent leadership, organisational, and communication skills Passion for fresh, seasonal, and locally sourced produce Whats on Offer Alongside a competitive salary and daytime working hours (no late nights), youll enjoy: Salary inline with experience 15% staff discount across all brands Contributory pension scheme An additional day off for your birthday 32 days holiday (including Bank Holidays) increasing with length of service Opportunities for career progression within the group A 45 - hour working week over 5 days, with no late nights & alternate weekends off On-site parking Come and join the Team If youre an enthusiastic, motivated chef who loves leading a team and delivering great food in a vibrant, customer - focused setting, we d love to hear from you.