Café Chef Manager

• Job Title: Café Chef Manager
• Location: Royal Academy of Arts Piccadilly, London,
• upto £40,000 per annum
• 40hrs / 5 over days / 8am to 4pm with flexibility to meet business needs on event days

Job Introduction

As the Café Chef Manager you will be responsible for the daily culinary operations of the cafés, ensuring exceptional food quality, efficient kitchen performance, and a high standard of hygiene and safety. This role combines hands‑on cooking, team leadership, and operational management, supporting both the culinary vision and commercial success of the cafés and retail offering.

What You'll Do:

Kitchen Leadership & Operations

• Lead daily kitchen operations, ensuring smooth service for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and grab‑and‑go items.
• Supervise, train, and motivate the kitchen team.
• Create staff rotas and manage labour budgets.
• Ensure all food preparation meets company quality and presentation standards.

Menu Development & Quality Control

• Assist in menu planning, seasonal updates, and recipe development.
• Manage portion sizes, consistency, and allergen control.
• Ensure dishes leave the kitchen on time and to specification.

Food Safety & Compliance

• Maintain strict compliance with food hygiene regulations (HACCP).
• Ensure all kitchen records are completed: temperature logs, cleaning schedules, stock checks.
• Maintain a clean, organised, and safe working environment.

Stock Management & Cost Control

• Monitor stock levels, order ingredients, and manage inventory.
• Reduce waste through correct preparation, rotation, and portion management.
• Work with management to meet cost targets (GP, wastage, labour).

Team Management

• Lead and develop kitchen staff through coaching and training.
• Conduct performance reviews and support recruitment for kitchen roles.
• Foster a positive kitchen culture built on teamwork, respect, and high standards.

Customer & Front-of-House Collaboration

• Work closely with café supervisors, baristas, and front-of-house teams to ensure service speed and quality.
• Respond to customer feedback and adjust operations where necessary.
• Support special events, catering, and seasonal promotions.

What You Bring:

• Experience as a Chef Manager, Sous Chef, Café Chef, or similar leadership role.
• Strong cooking skills with experience in café/ retail style cuisine (breakfast, brunch, bakery, light meals).
• Knowledge of food safety regulations and allergen management.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Leadership ability with a calm, positive approach.
• Confidence managing stock, ordering, and basic financial targets.
• Ability to work well under pressure in a fast-paced environment.

What we offer:

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it’s a chance to be part of something greater. You’ll belong in a company and team that values you for you; you’ll act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions; and you’ll be able to thrive in your own way. In addition, we also offer a range of resources, rewards and benefits for our colleagues and their families:

• Unlimited access to an online platform offering mental health and wellbeing support.
• Employee Assistance Programme to help with everyday issues or larger problems where you may need additional support, including legal and financial advice, support with work related issues or personal issues such as bereavement.
• Access to a free health and wellbeing app that provides rewards for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and includes access to a 24hr virtual GP and various other services.
• The Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering great deals 24/7 (also open to friends and family) and/or the prepayment cashback card.
• Money Insights and financial benefits via the Salary Finance Platform.
• Save for your future by becoming a member of the Sodexo Retirement Plan
• A Death-in-Service benefit for colleagues who pass away whilst employed by Sodexo
• Opportunities to enable colleagues to grow and succeed throughout their career at Sodexo, including a variety of learning and development tools.
• Cycle to Work Scheme to help colleagues to do their bit for the environment whilst keeping fit.
• Volunteering Opportunities to enable all colleagues to help support worthwhile causes in our communities.
• Flexible and dynamic work environment
• Competitive compensation
• Full training and full protective uniform supplied.

Ready to be part of something greater? Apply today! Career progression for the caring profession.

Sodexo reserves the right to close this advertisement early if we are in receipt of a high volume of applications.

About Sodexo Live!

At Sodexo Live!, our purpose is to create a better every day for everyone to build a better life for all. As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100 million consumers each day through our unique combination of On-Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer. We are a forces friendly employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds, and identities. We encourage our employees to get involved with our Employee Networks such as Pride, Sodexo Parents & Carers, Sodexo Disability, Ability network, So Together, Generations and Origins.

Sodexo Disability, Ability network, So Together, Generations and Origins.

We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer. We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations.

Click here to read more about what we do to promote an inclusive culture.

File Downloads

• UK Rewards and Benefits Guide.pdf