We are recruiting an experienced Support Chef Manager to join our Support Team, working across our sites throughout the South of the UK, with travel as far as London, Cambridge and Oxford. This is a 40-hour-per-week role offering plenty of variety and the opportunity to work alongside different kitchen teams across our business.

Do you enjoy creating restaurant-quality food, leading kitchen teams and getting stuck into a varied role? Are you looking for a new challenge that offers greater variety, stability and a better work-life balance than traditional hotel or restaurant environments?

Wilson Vale is an established, quality-led contract caterer, working with fantastic clients across the UK who place great value on food as an important part of their culture and community. From workplace restaurants and independent schools to conference venues, we bring the same high standards and commitment to quality to everything we do.

Our culture is built around craft, quality, creative freedom, forward thinking and integrity. We take pride in our food, never compromising on fresh, seasonal produce, and believe in giving our people the opportunity to do what they do best.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in fresh food environments, ideally with previous experience as a Chef Manager or Head Chef. You'll be confident supporting and leading kitchen teams, maintaining high standards and adapting to different working environments. This role would suit someone who enjoys variety, takes pride in their cooking and is happy to bring their experience and knowledge to different sites across the business.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Cover for chefs and chef managers across various sites, ensuring seamless service and quality
• Prepare and serve imaginative, fresh, seasonal food to exceed expectations
• Lead and motivate kitchen teams with a “nothing is too much trouble” attitude
• Maintain high standards of presentation, service, and food safety
• Manage budgets, stock, ordering, and menu planning
• Build excellent relationships with clients, customers, and on-site teams
• Implement themed events, promotions, and innovative food ideas during cover periods
• Ensure all due diligence, hygiene, and health & safety records are maintained to the highest standard

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Proven experience in fresh food kitchens, ideally as a chef manager or head chef
• Strong cooking skills with the ability to adapt to different kitchens and teams
• Flexible and willing to travel to a variety of sites
• Strong leadership and communication skills
• Proactive, organised, and calm under pressure
• Positive attitude and a commitment to delivering consistent quality
• Knowledge of food trends, service styles, and premium hospitality standards

OUR CULTURE:

• Craft at our core – we pride ourselves on our craft-skilled chefs who create wonderful fresh food from scratch.
• It’s all about the food – the menu is the most important document our chefs write every week.
• Quality, seasonal ingredients – 300+ British suppliers and our chefs can source locally.
• Freedom to create – our teams love to cook up exciting food themes and pop-ups to keep the food fun.
• Support like no other – our business was founded by family and we have stayed true to those same family values of nurturing development, protecting our values and building trust and loyalty.
• Making food that not only tastes great but is good for the planet. We have always had a strong environmental ethos and are dedicated to our social and environmental commitments.
• We believe in tailored training and opportunities to build your career with us.

WILSON VALE PERKS:

• Our working hours are some of the best you'll find in catering - we are strong believers in work-life balance
• Our working environment is fun and inspiring, with excellent career development opportunities
• Craft Works – Free craft-focused career development training programme
• Paid training bespoke to you
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme- your wellbeing is very important to us
• Online employee benefits scheme - monetary savings on everyday items!
• Your Birthday off every year after 1 years’ service.
• Enhanced Maternity Pay

Wilson Vale is an equal opportunities employer that strives to create an inclusive working environment for all. We are committed to supporting our people and do not tolerate discrimination of any kind. From each and every person in our catering teams, to our operations and central support teams – everyone at has a voice.