Chef Manager

Chef Manager – Independent School Catering (Term Time Only), Tunbridge Wells, Kent, up to £45,000 Are you a talented Head Chef ready to take the next step into management, or an experienced Chef Manager looking for a better work-life balance? We are recruiting on behalf of a prestigious independent secondary school near Tunbridge Wells, Kent, for an experienced and passionate Chef Manager to lead a busy and successful catering operation. This is an exciting opportunity to oversee a high-quality food offering across core dining, hospitality, and school events, with a strong focus on fresh food and exceptional service standards - all within a term time only position, offering an excellent work-life balance. The Role As Chef Manager, you will be fully responsible for the day-to-day running of the catering operation, leading both front and back of house teams while ensuring high standards across all areas. Key responsibilities include: Managing the daily catering operation across the school site Leading, motivating, and developing a large FOH and BOH team Building strong relationships with senior leadership, staff, pupils, and parents Managing budgets, forecasting, P&L, and financial reporting Menu planning, including dietary and allergen management Maintaining exceptional food quality, presentation, and service standards Overseeing hospitality and event catering functions About You We are looking for someone who is: An experienced Chef Manager, Catering Manager, or a strong Head Chef ready for progression Experienced within education catering or B&I catering environments A confident leader with excellent people management skills Passionate about fresh food and high culinary standards Highly organised with strong attention to detail An excellent communicator who can engage with pupils, staff, and stakeholders Flexible, proactive, and positive in approach Additional Information Term time only position 40 hours per week Working pattern: 5 days out of 7 Competitive salary up to £45,000 DBS check required for the successful candidate Interested and keen to apply? Then we’d love to hear from you IND7