Food & Operations Lead; Pathway to Operations Manager

At The Wild Oven, food is about more than feeding people; it’s about connection. We create wood-fired cooking and unforgettable grazing experiences from our Land Rover mobile kitchens and hand-crafted grazing boards, celebrating local produce and the magic of cooking over fire.

We’re a small, close-knit team who care deeply about how things feel, for our clients, our guests, and each other. We believe great food brings people together, and great teams are built on trust, calm leadership, and shared purpose.

We’re now looking for someone to sit at the heart of our food and operations, someone who brings clarity, warmth, and organisation, and who genuinely enjoys helping people do their best work.

Job Title:

Food & Operations Lead (with a clear pathway to Food Operations Manager)

Pay: £12.75-£14.75 per hour (depending on experience and hours)

Start Date:

Winter 2026

Location:

The Wild Oven Base, Billesley Manor Farm, Stratford-upon-Avon

This role is roughly 60% kitchen & team coordination / 40% office-based operations and admin.

This is not a traditional “head chef” role. You don’t need to be cheffy, but you do need to be confident around food, comfortable leading a kitchen team, and passionate about doing things properly and calmly.

For the right person, this role will naturally grow into Food Operations Manager, taking more ownership of how The Wild Oven runs behind the scenes.

You’re someone who:

• Loves food and understands how kitchens work, without needing the ego of a chef title
• Gets genuine satisfaction from bringing people together
• Is organised, thoughtful, and steady, especially when things get busy
• Sees problems early and quietly sorts them
• Leads with trust, clarity, and kindness
• Can delegate confidently and support others to take responsibility
• Cares deeply about food safety, standards, and doing things the right way

You’re the person others naturally turn to when they need things to make sense.

• Oversee daily food prep and schedules
• Lead and support the food prep team during prep and at events
• Maintain food safety standards and documentation (SFBB, training, compliance)
• Work closely with the GM or Assistant Manager to spot issues early and solve them calmly
• Coordinate rotas and ensure smooth communication between the food team and event teams

• Monitor stock levels and ensure ingredients and supplies are ready when needed
• Manage ordering and supplier relationships
• Track stock movement and help reduce waste

• Create clear prep plans and priorities
• Delegate tasks effectively and keep things moving
• Communicate event timings, needs, and expectations clearly

• Respond to client emails and calls in a warm, professional way
• Keep systems up to date (CRM, stock logs, rotas)
• Support with seasonal prep, logistics, and event packing

• Experience coordinating or leading a team (5+ people)
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to juggle priorities
• Knowledge of food hygiene and health & safety standards
• Calm, clear communication style
• Comfortable balancing hands‑on kitchen work with admin
• Full driving licence

• Experience with Google Workspace or Microsoft Office (especially Excel)
• CRM experience (Hub Spot or similar)

• Work with wood-fired ovens, outdoor events, and local produce
• Be part of a small, supportive, creative team
• See events through from enquiry to delivery
• Have real influence in shaping how the business operates
• Flexible hours where possible
• A genuine pathway into senior leadership as the business grows
• A relaxed, human, values‑led working environment

Send your CV and a short note about why you’d be a great fit for The Wild Oven to

Questions or want a chat before applying? Whats App Kiera on