Job Description:

Are you an experienced Chef Manager looking for your next challenge within a high-volume contract catering environment?

We're looking for a passionate and commercially minded Chef Manager to lead a successful catering operation in Gravesend. This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious catering professional who combines strong culinary skills with proven leadership experience and a genuine passion for delivering exceptional food and service.

Working within a prestigious contract catering environment, you'll have full responsibility for the day-to-day management of the kitchen, team development, customer satisfaction, financial performance, and operational excellence.

As Chef Manager, you'll be responsible for:

• Leading and developing a team of chefs, cooks, and front of house colleagues
• Planning and delivering innovative, fresh, and engaging menus
• Managing food preparation and presentation to the highest standards
• Controlling food costs, stock levels, ordering, and kitchen budgets
• Monitoring wastage and implementing cost-saving initiatives
• Building strong relationships with customers and stakeholders
• Ensuring full compliance with food safety, health & safety, and company standards
• Driving customer satisfaction through excellent food and service delivery
• Maintaining accurate operational and compliance records
• Supporting continuous improvement and menu development initiatives

To be successful in this role, you'll ideally have:

• Previous experience as a Chef Manager, Catering Manager, or Head Chef within contract catering
• Strong people management and leadership skills
• Demonstrable experience managing kitchen budgets, stock, and food costs
• Excellent culinary and menu development abilities
• A sound understanding of food safety and health & safety regulations
• Experience managing teams in a fast-paced catering environment
• Excellent communication and customer service skills
• A proactive and commercially focused approach

• Salary of £40,000 per annum
• 28 days holiday including bank holidays
• Your birthday off every year
• Free meals whilst on shift
• Enhanced maternity and family leave benefits
• 3 paid volunteering days
• Apprenticeship and development opportunities
• Pension and life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Wellbeing support hub
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• High street, travel and cinema discounts via Perkbox

• 40 hours per week
• Operational site runs 7 days per week
• Flexibility to support both day and night shift operations as required

If you're an experienced Chef Manager with a background in contract catering and are ready to take ownership of a thriving operation, we'd love to hear from you.

Please note: Applicants must have previous management experience within a catering environment and be able to commute to Gravesend (DA11) on a daily basis.

Blue Arrow is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to helping find great work opportunities for great people.