Chef​/Assistant Catering Manager

Chef / Assistant Catering Manager – Leeds, West Yorkshire

Perennial is a charity dedicated to helping people in horticulture. Together with our network of partners, we provide free support, information, advice, financial assistance and services for horticulturalists and their loved ones experiencing illness, disability, bereavement, family breakdown and financial difficulties. We have a real focus on improving the health and well‑being outcomes of people working in horticulture and have an ambitious preventative strategy to create better futures for people working in horticulture.

York Gate is a vibrant, beautiful arts and crafts garden, café, plant nursery and shop in Adel, Leeds. Due to an expansion, we are now open all week long and are welcoming more and more visitors every day.

We are now seeking a Chef / Assistant Catering Manager to join our growing York Gate team on a permanent, full‑time basis, working 37.5 hours per week, Wednesday to Sunday and on Bank Holidays.

• Salary of circa £27,000 per annum, dependent on experience
• 25 days' holiday plus bank holidays
• Pension: matching contributions up to 7%
• Sick Pay
• Death in Service Benefit (3 × salary)
• Family‑friendly policies, including ‘buying’ extra (unpaid) leave or time off for dependants

This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate catering professional with a strong customer focus to take their next step into an assistant manager role with our friendly, supportive team. Within our York Gate café, we pride ourselves on using fresh, local produce and reflecting the seasons with our menus. Overlooking our stunning new sunken Mediterranean garden, you will work in a beautiful environment which also promotes health through its delicious homemade food.

As a Chef / Assistant Catering Manager, you will help deliver high‑quality, seasonal food and a welcoming experience that is second‑to‑none. You will prepare and cook delicious, well‑presented and healthy food using seasonal produce, including ingredients from our kitchen garden, alongside a daily range of homemade cakes, scones and traybakes. Working closely with the kitchen team and volunteers, you will support the Catering Manager and deputise in their absence, sharing responsibility for the day‑to‑day operation of the café.

You will ensure the café runs smoothly and maintains a consistently high standard of food and service.

Additionally, you will:

• Lead on food preparation to the highest standards
• Cater for dietary requirements and food allergies and stay up‑to‑date on how to do this
• Ensure all hygiene, first aid and health and safety at work regulations, risk assessments and COSHH procedures are followed
• Support the organisation and safe storage of stock and supplies
• Maintain health and safety records and follow agreed procedures
• Provide friendly, professional customer service at all times

To be considered as our Chef / Assistant Catering Manager, you will need:

• Varied paid experience in the food service industry, including food preparation, ordering, budgeting, and stock control
• Customer service experience
• Food preparation, cooking, and presentation skills – especially those relevant to a healthy café setting
• Familiarity with the Food Standards Agency requirements, e.g. using the standards of Safer Food Better Business for Caterers
• Working knowledge of First Aid in the workplace
• Good, up‑to‑date knowledge of food hygiene and allergens
• Level 2 food hygiene certificate

The closing date for this role is 31st January 2026.

Other organisations might call this role Assistant Manager, Assistant Food and Beverage Manager, Cook, Kitchen Manager, Bar Manager, or Line Cook.

Webrecruit and Perennial are equal opportunities employers, value diversity and are strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. Equal opportunities are the only acceptable way to conduct business and we believe that the more inclusive our environments are, the better our work will be.

So, if you think you would be a good fit as our Chef / Assistant Catering Manager, please apply via the button shown. This vacancy is being advertised by Webrecruit. The services advertised by Webrecruit are those of an Employment Agency.