Kitchen Manager
YHA Borrowdale, Longthwaite, Borrowdale, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5XE
Seasonal, flexible contract - June to November 2026
Minimum 25 hours per week
£13.63 per hour
Staff accommodation is available at a rate of £74.62 per week
Are you looking for a fun and varied job in hospitality management? YHA Borrowdale are looking for a Kitchen Manager to support the Hostel Manager! Want to work somewhere wild and interesting? Want a challenging job in the center of one of the most celebrated national parks in the UK? Want to work at an award winning hostel delivering great customer experiences? YHA Borrowdale is all of this and more. Great job, great location.
We’re looking for someone who can take ownership of our kitchen, maintaining high standards all year round. This is a challenging role suited to a driven and ambitious individual who thrives on responsibility. You’ll have a strong track record of managing teams and experience working in a food environment, along with the flexibility to support across all areas of the hostel.
If this sounds like you, keep reading!
Why work for YHA?
Join our team and enjoy a range of exclusive staff benefits that support your well-being and career growth:
10 nights free hostel stays per year for you and up to 3 friends or family
Access to YHA’s staff discount and cash back portal
Free YHA Membership each year
Access to support via our Employee Assistance Program
There are many more benefits to working for YHA so please visit our YHA Jobs website for more information.
What will you be doing as a Kitchen Manager?
We are a friendly team and will provide the training required for you to undertake the role. However, there is plenty for you to get stuck into from day one, including:
Managing the food and beverage operation within your hostel
Leading the preparation and delivery of food to agreed YHA standards
Carrying out cleaning duties predominantly within our kitchen and food and beverage service areas
Minimising food and beverage waste
Maximising food and beverage profits
What Skills and Experience do you need to be a Kitchen Manager?
Our Kitchen Managers are responsible for supporting the management of an operational budget and delivery of KPI’s.
To provide this service we are looking for candidates who have:
Experience in hospitality, including the management and delivery of a quality service
Experience of food and beverage best practice
City & Guilds 706/ 1&2, NVQ4 or equivalent level of experience, Food Safety Level 2 Certificate qualifications
Working knowledge of allergens and health and safety compliance requirements
Excellent numeracy skills, experience of stock control and waste principles to maximise profit
Experience of managing a team – experience of leading others, providing guidance to members of your team
Ability to manage varying pressures, include peaks in workload demands – can prioritise, able to deal with conflicting duties
Basic IT skills (ideally Microsoft Office) – able to use Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel
Knowledge and understanding of the core purpose of YHA – what YHA does and how we do it
Demonstration of our HEART values – they’re part of everything we do, and we look for people who bring them to life in their everyday work
For more information about the role and the skills and experience required, please refer to the job description.
At YHA, we understand the richness of life experiences, and we place just as much importance on lived experiences as we do on skills and knowledge. We provide a robust induction, ongoing training, and opportunities for personal growth. While certain roles may require specific skills, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds. For more information about how we are creating an inclusive workplace please visit our jobs website.
Who are YHA?
YHA is a social enterprise with a mission to enrich the lives of all, especially young people. YHA does this by providing brilliant hostel stays and experiences that improve physical health, mental wellbeing and life skills.
If you would like to find out more about YHA the charity, the culture, the heritage and so much more please visit our jobs website.
How do you apply?
Submit your CV and complete the application form. For more information about our recruitment process, visit the job website. If you need any assistance, please email [email protected]
Once the hiring manager has reviewed your application we will contact shortlisted candidates. We aim to get in touch within a reasonable amount of time after the closing date. You can also check on the progress of your application if you have signed up to Connect - our online candidate portal
If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please get in touch by emailing [email protected].
PLEASE NOTE All relevant checks are in place to ensure safeguarding and legal requirements of safer recruitment are adhered to. We do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
YHA Job Title: Kitchen Manager
