Kitchen Manager

Head Chef / Kitchen Manager 📍 New Forest Area 💰 Up to £38,000 (DOE) ⏱ 40 hours per week | Permanent 🍽️ Lead the Kitchen. Shape the Menu. Inspire the Team. We’re on the lookout for a passionate Head Chef / Kitchen Manager to take the reins of a busy, high-volume kitchen in a stunning countryside holiday destination. This isn’t your typical volume catering role — you’ll have genuine creative freedom to design dishes, influence menus, and bring fresh, from-scratch cooking to life. If you’re a hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and loves delivering exceptional food experiences, this could be your perfect next move. 👨‍🍳 What You’ll Be Doing As Kitchen Manager, you’ll be at the heart of the operation — leading your team, driving standards, and ensuring every dish delights guests. Your key responsibilities will include: * Leading and inspiring the kitchen team day-to-day * Overseeing all Back of House operations * Ensuring consistently high food quality and presentation * Managing stock, food costs, and margins effectively * Recruiting, developing, and motivating your team * Working closely with Front of House to deliver a seamless guest experience * Driving compliance with food safety, hygiene, and health & safety standards * Creating seasonal specials and contributing to menu development 🔥 What We’re Looking For We’re searching for a strong, motivated leader with a real passion for food and people. You’ll ideally have: * Level 2 Food Hygiene (Level 3 preferred) * Experience as a Head Chef or Kitchen Manager in a fast-paced environment * Strong financial awareness and experience managing KPIs * Excellent organisational and communication skills * A passion for fresh food and great customer experiences * Resilience and a positive, can-do attitude ✨ Experience within hospitality, leisure, or holiday parks is a bonus — but not essential. 🏡 The Perks * Competitive salary up to £38,000 * Bonus scheme * Pension scheme * Life insurance * Enhanced family benefits * Employee discounts platform * Discounts on holidays and on-site facilities * Recognition and reward programmes * On-site accommodation available (subject to availability) 🎯 The Lifestyle This role is based in a vibrant holiday environment, so flexibility is key — including weekends and bank holidays. In return, you’ll enjoy a unique, energetic workplace where no two days are the same. 🌈 Our Culture We’re proud to be a people-first organisation that celebrates diversity, inclusion, and individuality. We believe the best teams are built on different perspectives, backgrounds, and ideas — and we encourage everyone to bring their whole self to work. 🚀 Ready to Take the Lead? If you’re ready to step into a role where you can truly make your mark, we’d love to hear from you. Apply today and take the next step in your culinary career