Lead Chef

Are you looking to step up your career in food and beverage? The National Trust is renowned for its food and hospitality. We run 185 cafes, tea-rooms, and restaurants all over England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and we'd love you to join us. 

We’re looking for a Lead Chef to join us at Rufford Old Hall. Because we are in a rural area, please think about how you’d be able to get here for work, before applying for the job. 

Benefits: We want to help you look after the things that matter to you, such as saving for your future, getting a discount on your weekly shop, or encouraging you to find a work-life balance. Please read our package, below, to see what benefits we offer you.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, shift pattern is 5 over 7 daytime hours with weekend work required (no split shifts or evening work). Rufford Old Hall is closed on a Wednesday and Thursday weekly, so these will be your 2 consecutive days off. 

Salary: £24,843 - £29,835 per annum, depending on experience.

Duration: This is a permanent role which offers realistic salary progression based on annual reviews.

Interview date: Interviews will take place on Monday 15th and 22nd of July. 

To find out more about what it’s like to work in a food and beverage team for the National Trust, click here to watch our video.

Your main focus is the kitchen at Rufford Old Hall, a busy and creative hub. You’ll be working within the framework of our ‘National Trust Cookbook’ to prepare delicious food from scratch using fresh, seasonal ingredients. Your food will be served directly to visitors.

You’ll help to build a great place to work, which includes showing empathy and giving support to team members when needed. The aim is to foster a positive spirit where everyone is focussed on giving the best possible service to visitors. 

By maintaining high standards of food hygiene and COSHH procedures, you’ll minimise risks to visitors, staff and contractors.

We’ll give you an induction that fits the job, and training in allergens and food safety, plus any mentoring needed to help you in your role. You can sign up for further professional training and development if you wish. 

Please also read the full role profile, attached to this advert.

We’d love to hear from you if you’re:

•Experienced as a professional chef or cook, with a passion for food and a friendly and positive attitude.

•Confident about following recipes and batch-cooking, and willing to learn.

•Aware of health and safety compliance.

•Happy working within a team, and good at communicating with people.

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

•Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

•Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

•Rental deposit loan scheme

•Season ticket loan

•EV car lease scheme 

•Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts

•Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.

•Flexible working whenever possible

•Employee assistance programme

•Free parking at most Trust places

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.