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