Lead Chef

Position: LeadChef
Pay: £13.90 per hour (£27,100.00 per annum)
Location: YMCA Norfolk Catering Services
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours per week: 37.5 hours

Job Role

We are looking for a passionate and experienced Lead Chef to lead our catering operations at YMCA Norfolk in Norwich. You will be responsible for overseeing food preparation and service, maintaining high standards of food quality, safety and hygiene, and supporting the day-to-day running of the kitchen. Working closely with the Catering Manager, you will supervise kitchen staff, create menus within budget, and help ensure an excellent dining experience for customers, young people and nursery children.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation and cooking of high-quality food.
• Supervise and support kitchen staff, including rota management.
• Create menus and recipes within agreed budgets.
• Maintain food hygiene, health & safety and environmental health standards.
• Manage stock ordering, deliveries and stock rotation.
• Act as Duty Manager when required in the Catering Manager's absence.
• Resolve customer issues and ensure excellent service standards.
• Maintain a clean, safe and well-organised kitchen environment.

About You

We are looking for someone who:

• Experienced in a commercial kitchen environment.
• Able to work under pressure and manage competing priorities.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Knowledgeable in food hygiene, health & safety and food storage requirements.
• Able to supervise and support colleagues effectively.
• Committed to delivering excellent customer service.
• Reliable, organised and able to work to agreed standards.
• Supportive of YMCA Norfolk's values, safeguarding responsibilities and inclusive culture.
• Is flexible and able to work unsocial hours when required.

Qualifications:

• NVQ Level 2 in Catering/Food Preparation (or equivalent) is essential.
• Food Hygiene Certificate.
• Knowledge of Health & Safety, Environmental Health and Food Hygiene requirements.
• Basic Knowledge of COSHH.

Further information can be found at - Lead Chef Job Description

The Organisation

At YMCA Norfolk we are hope filled, inspiring and empowering.

We aim to offer meaningful opportunities to make a difference in the lives of young people. We place young people at the heart of all we do and are committed to building an organisation that is responsive to the needs of young people within our community.

As a value-driven organisation we want our identity to run through everything we do, so we aim to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for not only the young people we serve but our staff too. Working at YMCA Norfolk is an opportunity to be a part of an organisation which is challenging, innovative, rewarding and most importantly - fun!

For more information on this role, please contact .

Benefits

• Health Care Plan
• 34 days (pro rata) per annum inclusive of Bank and Public Holidays
• An additional day of annual leave (pro rata) awarded after 5 and 10 years of continuous Long Service
• Access to contributory stakeholder pension scheme after 3 months
• Health and wellbeing events and activities
• Family friendly policies
• In service training opportunities and bursaries investing in your development
• Annual staff day and staff awards to celebrate our successes
• Death in service benefit of 2 x annual salary
• Regular line management and support
• Staff discount at Williams Kitchen Café, Explorers Soft Play & Muddy Puddles Nursery

Closing date for applications: 9am on Monday 17th August 2026

YMCA Norfolk is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Please note the successful candidate will be required to undertake a Basic DBS check prior to starting employment.

Written references will be obtained for the successful candidate that will cover the previous 5 years of employment. The successful candidate will be advised that an offer of employment is subject to us obtaining a minimum of two references which are satisfactory to YMCA Norfolk. Character references may be sought where it is not possible to obtain employment references.

YMCA Norfolk will consider all applications, however this role does not meet the salary requirements for sponsorship.