Lead Chef

Love being a chef, but looking for a better work-life balance?

Lead Café Chef

Salary: £15 per hour

Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Land of Oak and Iron Heritage Centre, Winlaton Mill, Gateshead, NE21

About the Role

This employer is looking for a talented Lead Chef to join their café at the beautiful Land of Oak & Iron Heritage Centre in Winlaton Mill.

This is more than just a kitchen role. It's an opportunity to shape a thriving café offer, inspire a team, and play a key part in welcoming visitors from across the region.

If you're someone who enjoys being creative with menus, takes pride in serving fresh, high-quality food, and loves seeing customers leave with a smile, they would love to hear from you.

What You'll Be Doing

As the Lead Chef you'll lead day-to-day kitchen operations, prepare fresh, high-quality food, support and develop your team, and ensure excellent standards across the kitchen.

Why Join The Employer?

• Create and develop your own menus and seasonal specials
• Lead and support a small, dedicated kitchen team
• Daytime hours (typically 8:30am-5:00pm) with no regular evening shifts
• Take ownership of menu planning, food costings and gross profit
• Manage stock control, ordering and minimising wastage
• Oversee HACCP, food safety and kitchen compliance
• Work in a popular, established café at a unique heritage destination

About You

The employer is looking for someone who:

• Has experience leading or managing a kitchen
• Is passionate about fresh, high-quality food
• Has experience with menu development and food cost management
• Has strong knowledge of food hygiene and health & safety standards
• Is organised, proactive and enjoys leading a team
• Takes pride in delivering excellent food and customer service

Work-Life Balance

The employer's café operates seven days a week, with the Lead Chef working a five-day rota that includes regular weekends. Unlike many hospitality roles, there are no late-night services or split shifts, allowing for a more balanced lifestyle. Occasional evening catering may be required for special events, but these are planned well in advance.

If you're ready to lead a kitchen, influence the menu, and make a real impact in a unique setting, the employer would love to hear from you.

Closing Date: 26th November 2026

Please note, should the employer receive a high volume of applications, they may look to close the role early, therefore we recommend an early application.

Interested?

To find out more information, please click the apply button. You will be taken to a simple CHM Recruit form and then redirected to complete your application for this position.

The employer wants you to be yourself and they value everything that makes you unique. They recognise and celebrate your difference and together you will make the organisation a special and great place to work. As a Disability Confident employer they offer a guaranteed interview to applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria for the role.

The employer ensures that they provide a safe environment for adults, children and young people to take part in any activity or service that they organise.They are committed to creating a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk. Their safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and comprehensive process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all the people they appoint are suitable to work with children, young people and adults.

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

No agencies please.