Lead Cook

Lead Cook / Factory Cook

Location: Leicester
Pay: £14.50–£16.86 per hour (DOE)
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

We are looking for an experienced Lead Cook / Factory Cook to supervise and lead a busy cookhouse team within a food manufacturing environment.

You will be responsible for preparing and cooking high volumes of ingredients to the highest quality standards, following recipes and production requirements. Experience in a factory or food manufacturing environment would be highly desirable.

Key Responsibilities

* Preparing and cooking high-volume food products

* Supervising and vetting the work of the existing cook team

* Supporting the team with a strong focus on food quality

* Cooking bulk recipes, including 100–500kg batches and multiple batches daily

* Using fixed and tilt cooking vessels, as well as stock pots

* Picking and transferring raw materials from chilled, frozen and ambient storage

* Tracking and recording ingredients and stock movements using computer/tablet systems

* Helping with general kitchen cleaning and leading by example

* Training and developing team members

* Tasting products and confirming quality standards

Working Hours

* Typically Sunday to Thursday or Friday, depending on business requirements

* Standard shifts: 6am–2pm or 2pm–10pm

* Occasional Saturday shifts on a rota, generally 6am–2pm or 7am–3pm

* Approximately 37.5–40 hours per week

* Flexibility to work weekends is required, with a day off during the week when covering a Saturday

Experience Required

* Minimum 2 years' chef experience

* Experience with bulk/batch cooking in a food manufacturing or factory environment preferred

* Experience cooking 100–500kg batches

* Good understanding of food quality and production standards

* Basic computer literacy

* Ability to supervise, train and develop a team

* Ability to work with chilled, frozen and ambient ingredients

* Flexibility to work rotating shifts and occasional weekends

* Right to work in the UK is essential

* No sponsorship available
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed