Lead Chef – Café and Catering

About the role

Groundwork is seeking an experienced Lead Chef to run the café kitchen and catering services at the Greenhouse Business Centre. This hands‑on role combines daily café food preparation with the planning and delivery of catering for conferences, meetings and special events.

Key responsibilities

• Lead all kitchen operations for both café and catering services.
• Prepare and cook a variety of dishes including sandwiches, soups, baked items and hot lunches.
• Design, plan and cost seasonal menus for the café and catering events.
• Ensure food quality, presentation and consistency during service.
• Plan and execute catering for on‑site conferences, meetings and special events, coordinating with business centre staff.
• Maintain full compliance with food safety, allergen control and HACCP procedures.
• Manage ordering, delivery, storage, stock levels and waste control within budget.
• Supervise, train and support Catering Assistants and temporary staff.
• Handle operational issues, complaints and service challenges, reporting to management.

Required profile

• Proven experience as a Lead Chef or Senior Chef in a café, hospitality or catering environment.
• Strong culinary skills with the ability to design and cost varied menus.
• Excellent understanding of food hygiene, allergen control and HACCP systems.
• Leadership, communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Strong planning, organisation and time‑management skills.

Required skills

• Competence in Microsoft Office applications.
• Knowledge of HACCP procedures and food safety regulations.

What we offer

• Salary of £25,480 per annum.
• 35‑hour week with flexibility for additional hours as required.
• Opportunity to lead a small, customer‑focused kitchen team.