Catering Manager – Cuffley Camp
Lead a large-scale catering operation without sacrificing your work-life balance.
We’re looking for an experienced Catering Manager to oversee catering at one of the UK’s leading outdoor learning and experience centres. You’ll lead a team of 3–7 staff, catering for up to 700 guests daily across school activity programmes, corporate events, weddings, parties and seasonal experiences.
Unlike many hospitality roles, our busiest period is concentrated into a few months of the year, with significantly reduced hours during the off-season, creating a lifestyle and work-life balance rarely found within the catering industry. Optional live-in accommodation is available, with free accommodation provided for senior management.
The Role
Reporting to the Senior Catering & Facilities Manager and the Centre Manager, you’ll oversee both our commercial kitchen and unique woodland catering facilities, delivering breakfast, lunch and dinner services to a wide range of guests.
No two days are the same. One week you may be catering for hundreds of young people attending outdoor activity programmes, the next supporting a corporate event, wedding or private function.
Key responsibilities include:
- Managing and developing a team of 3–7 catering staff.
- Delivering high-quality breakfast, lunch and dinner services.
- Menu planning and food production.
- Managing food safety, stock control and kitchen compliance.
- Monitoring food costs, labour costs and operational performance.
- Maintaining excellent customer service standards.
- Supporting the development of our catering offer across both indoor and outdoor catering environments.
About You
You’ll be an organised, hands-on catering professional who enjoys leading teams and thrives in a varied environment.
Essential
- Catering or hospitality qualification.
- Previous catering management, head chef or kitchen leadership experience.
- Experience managing teams.
- Strong organisational and communication skills.
- Experience with menu planning, budgeting and food cost control.
- Ability to remain calm and effective under pressure.
- Willingness to undergo an enhanced DBS check (paid for by the company).
Highly Desirable
- Experience in camp, outdoor education, hotel, resort, contract or large-scale catering operations.
- Previous military catering or seasonal hospitality experience.
- Experience catering for large groups and high-volume service environments.
Why Join Us?
This is a genuinely rewarding role where your work helps create memorable experiences for thousands of guests every year.
You’ll be supported by both the Director of Catering & Facilities and the Centre Manager, who are highly experienced catering professionals with extensive operational and leadership backgrounds. They are committed to providing ongoing support, mentoring and professional development, giving you the opportunity to grow within the role and wider organisation.
Most importantly, this role offers something increasingly rare in hospitality: the opportunity to lead a busy, professional catering operation without the year-round pressures and unsociable hours often associated with restaurants, hotels and traditional hospitality businesses.
Benefits
- Competitive salary.
- Optional live-in position.
- Free accommodation for senior management.
- Excellent work-life balance.
- Free meals whilst on duty.
- Free uniform.
- Free on-site parking.
- Company events and social activities.
- Company-funded enhanced DBS check.
- Supportive and experienced senior leadership team.
- A unique outdoor working environment where no two days are the same.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £35,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Experience:
- Kitchen management: 2 years (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
