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