Lead Chef

Salary: £30,000 – £32,000 per annum (dependent on experience)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (Mon-Fri occasional weekend work given back in lieu)
Contract: Permanent
Location: Wakefield - Hospice setting
Reports to: Commercial Catering Lead

Why join us?

This is a rewarding opportunity for an experienced Chef to play a key role in a busy hospice catering team. You’ll deliver high-quality, nutritious meals for patients while also contributing to exciting income-generating catering initiatives, including outside catering and events — all within a supportive, values-driven environment.

The Role

As a Chef, you will support the Commercial Catering Lead in the day-to-day running of the catering department, ensuring consistently high standards of food quality, hygiene, and service. They are looking to expand with their outdoor catering offering so a UK driver is a must.

You’ll take a hands-on approach in the kitchen while helping lead the team, manage rotas, plan menus, and support external catering activities. Patient meals will always remain the focal point of the role.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting and deputising for the Commercial Catering Lead when required

• Preparing, cooking, and serving high-quality meals to agreed standards

• Playing a key role in outside catering and income-generating initiatives

• Creating monthly rotas and managing annual leave requests

• Managing stock levels and menu planning using seasonal produce

• Working to budgets and financial targets while reducing the hospice’s carbon footprint

• Ensuring full compliance with food hygiene, HACCP, nutrition, and patient welfare standards

• Maintaining excellent customer service for patients, staff, volunteers, and visitors

What We’re Looking For

You’ll be an experienced, motivated Chef with a positive, flexible attitude and a genuine passion for quality food and teamwork.

Essential qualifications and experience:

• City & Guilds 7061 / 7062 in Catering & Hospitality or NVQ Level 2 in Catering & Hospitality

• Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate

• Level 2 HACCP

• Full UK driving licence

• Strong knowledge of food safety, hygiene, and kitchen compliance

• Ability to lead by example and step up in a supervisory capacity

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Maintain high standards of cleanliness and hygiene across all catering areas

• Complete and maintain food safety records, temperature checks, and HACCP documentation

• Carry out and support regular risk assessments

• Ensure a safe environment for staff, volunteers, and visitors

Working Pattern

• Rota-based hours

• Weekends and bank holidays form part of the normal working week

• Flexibility required to support service needs and special events

Interested?

If you’re looking for a Chef role where your work genuinely makes a difference — and where creativity, teamwork, and quality matter — we’d love to hear from you.

What We’re Looking For

• 2+ years’ experience as a Sous Chef

• A chef who’s eager to grow, develop, and lead a team

• A team player with a no-ego attitude and a passion for quality food

• Someone who truly loves fresh, clean, seasonal produce

About Chefs for Chefs

Chefs for Chefs are committed to promoting equal opportunities regardless of age, gender, religion, belief, race, sexuality or disability.
We operate as both an employment agency and an employment business.
You can find a wide selection of vacancies on our website.