Lead Cook

Lead Cook / Factory Cook Location: Leicester Pay: £14.50–£16.86 per hour (DOE) Job Type: Full-time, Permanent We are looking for an experienced Lead Cook / Factory Cook to supervise and lead a busy cookhouse team within a food manufacturing environment. You will be responsible for preparing and cooking high volumes of ingredients to the highest quality standards, following recipes and production requirements. Experience in a factory or food manufacturing environment would be highly desirable. Key Responsibilities * Preparing and cooking high-volume food products * Supervising and vetting the work of the existing cook team * Supporting the team with a strong focus on food quality * Cooking bulk recipes, including 100–500kg batches and multiple batches daily * Using fixed and tilt cooking vessels, as well as stock pots * Picking and transferring raw materials from chilled, frozen and ambient storage * Tracking and recording ingredients and stock movements using computer/tablet systems * Helping with general kitchen cleaning and leading by example * Training and developing team members * Tasting products and confirming quality standards Working Hours * Typically Sunday to Thursday or Friday, depending on business requirements * Standard shifts: 6am–2pm or 2pm–10pm * Occasional Saturday shifts on a rota, generally 6am–2pm or 7am–3pm * Approximately 37.5–40 hours per week * Flexibility to work weekends is required, with a day off during the week when covering a Saturday Experience Required * Minimum 2 years' chef experience * Experience with bulk/batch cooking in a food manufacturing or factory environment preferred * Experience cooking 100–500kg batches * Good understanding of food quality and production standards * Basic computer literacy * Ability to supervise, train and develop a team * Ability to work with chilled, frozen and ambient ingredients * Flexibility to work rotating shifts and occasional weekends * Right to work in the UK is essential * No sponsorship available