Summary
Are you looking to develop your career in food and drink? Did you know that the National Trust, Europe's largest conservation charity, is also renowned for its food and hospitality? We run 185 cafes all over England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and we'd love you to join us.
We’re looking for a Head Chef to join us. Because we are in a rural area, please think about how you’d be able to get here for work, before applying for the job.
Benefits: We want to help you look after the things that matter to you, such as saving for your future, getting a discount on your weekly shop, or encouraging you to find a work-life balance. Please read our package, below, to see what benefits we offer you.
Hours: 5 days out of 7 per week. Weekend work is expected. Day shifts only.
Salary: £29,367
Duration: Permanent
Interview date: Week comm 8th June
Potential start date: July 2026
What it's like to work here
Calke Abbey is a distinctive National Trust property, known for its “unstately home” and extensive parkland, welcoming large numbers of visitors throughout the year. The wider Calke portfolio also includes Staunton Harold Reservoir and Foremark Reservoir, both popular outdoor destinations with busy visitor hubs, as well as the historic Stoneywell Tea Room, offering a more intimate and characterful setting.
Together, these sites create a diverse and fast-paced operation, with food and beverage playing an important role in the overall visitor experience and supporting the Trust’s conservation work.
To find out more about what it’s like to work in a food and beverage team for the National Trust,
What you'll be doing
As Kitchen Manager, your main focus will be leading our kitchen operation, working closely with the Food and Beverage management team across the Calke portfolio. You’ll be joining us at an exciting time, with a brand-new production kitchen that supports multiple outlets. Still in its early stages, you’ll play a key role in shaping how it operates – developing processes, improving efficiency and helping to build a high-performing, future-focused kitchen.
You’ll lead and inspire a team of 16, working as part of a wider group of up to 130 staff and volunteers. Using the National Trust's Values, you’ll create a positive and inclusive environment where people feel supported, motivated and able to thrive. You’ll take the lead on recruitment, induction and training, helping to build a strong, capable team and a great place to work.
You’ll be responsible for the full management of stock, including ordering, stocktakes and controls, ensuring effective systems are in place to minimise waste and maximise efficiency. Alongside this, you’ll have a strong focus on financial performance – managing costs, improving gross profit and ensuring the food and beverage offer makes a meaningful contribution back into the National Trust.
Maintaining the highest standards of food safety, allergen management and health and safety will be central to your role. You’ll lead from the front in ensuring full compliance with legislation and the Trust’s robust allergen procedures and Food Safety Management System, embedding a strong culture of safe working practices and confidence across your team.
Working within our centrally developed menus and ‘National Trust Cookbook’, you’ll ensure consistency in quality, presentation, portion control and service standards across all outlets. You’ll oversee the production of fresh, seasonal food using quality ingredients, while also identifying opportunities to enhance the offer and continuously improve the visitor experience.
As part of the wider Calke Food & Beverage management team, you’ll collaborate across multiple sites, building strong relationships with colleagues and suppliers, contributing to business planning and supporting the continued development and success of the portfolio.
We’ll give you an induction that fits the job, and training in allergens and food safety, plus any mentoring needed to help you in your role. You can sign up for further professional training and development if you wish.
Please also read the full role profile, attached to this advert.
Who we're looking for
We’d love to hear from you if you’re:
•Experienced as a professional chef, with a passion for food and a friendly and positive attitude.
•Confident about following recipes and batch-cooking, and willing to learn.
•Aware of health and safety compliance.
•Happy leading a team, and able to set personal objectives and give feedback to help improve performance.
•Aware of budgets such as increasing income and controlling costs.
The package
The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.
•Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
•Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
•Rental deposit loan scheme
•Season ticket loan
•EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)
•Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
•Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
•Flexible working whenever possible
•Employee assistance programme
•Free parking at most Trust places