Lead Chef

CAREERS AT CHESTER ZOO Lead Chef

Job reference: 001814

Salary: £29,850

Closing date: 22/11/2026

Department: Food & Beverage

Location: Chester

Employment type: Permanent

Hours Per Week: 40

Job Description

Lead Chef

Love creating exceptional food in a kitchen where every day brings something new?
Join the talented culinary team at Chester Zoo as a Lead Chef and help deliver memorable dining experiences across our unique collection of venues. From the vibrant flavours of Manado, our Asian inspired street food kitchen, to the comforting favourites served in our colleague canteen, and the fresh, seasonal dishes at our award-winning gastro pub, The Oakfield, you'll have the opportunity to develop your skills, work with quality ingredients, and be part of a team that's passionate about great food, collaboration, and making every visit special. All of our kitchens are led by our sustainable values. We work hard to source high quality, local and seasonal produce, are making progress towards zero waste kitchens by 2030. We also partner with our suppliers to ensure only ethically sourced palm oil enters our kitchens.

Our venues, all held within our 128 acre site of stunning gardens, will jointly operate a turnover of £12.5 million. As a not for profit, everything we make is ploughed into conservation both here in the UK and around the world. Your role has a huge part to play in delivering our mission.

The Role
You will be directly responsible for supporting the Sous Chef and Head Chef making sure the department is driving the provision of fresh, quality ingredients whilst meeting our sustainable values.

You will:

• Provide support in the day-to-day running of the kitchen. Deputise for the Sous Chef in their absence and act as the first point of contact for service recovery
• Support the Sous Chef in devising and delivering on-trend restaurant, gastro pub and event menus ahead of competition, ensuring all venues at Chester Zoo maintain its world class reputation
• Produce food for customers of our restaurants and events to the highest standards in order to maximise profit and deliver a world class experiences
• Train and mentor Chef de Parties, Line Chefs and Seasonal team members to ensure effective and efficient work practice
• Work collaboratively with the front of house team to ensure seamless delivery
• Adhere to, and ensure team members adhere to, health and hygiene, standard operating procedures and safe working practices including food safety systems and associated legislation (for example HACCP)
• Ensure correct stock levels on a day-to-day basis, placing order requests to the Sous Chef, and accepting deliveries, ensuring they are correct and rotating stock as required

What’s in it for you?
Working with us means being part of something bigger. Every role plays a vital part in supporting our conservation mission, and we’re committed to supporting our people in return.

This role offers the opportunity to work within a unique venue setting, supporting our vibrant and varied events calendar. Alongside working core zoo opening hours, you’ll help deliver a number of evening events each year, from elegant weddings to high-profile corporate functions and seasonal late-night openings. Your contract hours are 40 per week, and you'll be paid overtime for all agreed overtime.

• Permanent contract
• £29,850 per annum based on 40 hours per week.
• Overtime available - this will be paid for agreed additional hours.
• 33 days annual leave
• Staff family pass - so you can visit the zoo during your time off
• Multiple complimentary tickets for your friends and family.
• Access to healthcare plan
• Complimentary access to a variety of staff events and special experiences held throughout the year.
• Employer contributory pension scheme

Our Requirements

• Demonstrable experience of chef skills in a high-volume business, including hotels, venues, restaurants, pubs and contract catering
• Able to demonstrate understanding of current restaurant and event food trends
• Excellent customer service skills
• Stock handling experience
• Minimum Level 2 Food Safety
• Good COSHH understanding and workplace application
• Good communication and coaching skills

Want more info?
As part of our selection process, we’d be delighted to invite you to meet the team, explore our kitchen, and gain a real insight into what a typical day in this role looks like. It’s a great opportunity to experience our working environment first-hand and see how your skills could contribute to our mission.
If you’re excited about joining us or would like an informal conversation with Ben Finchett our Executive Head Chef to learn more, we’d love to hear from you. Please send your CV to [email removed] to express your interest.

Please be aware we reserve the right to close our vacancies earlier than the listed date if we have received a high level of applications. We would recommend that if you do wish to be considered that you complete the application as promptly as possible as shortlisting and interviews may be taking place whilst the advert is live.