Chef Jobs
The UK hospitality sector has more than 100,000 chef vacancies right now. Whatever your level — commis chef taking your first steps, or head chef ready for a new kitchen — the roles are out there. Finding the right one is where we come in.
Pineapple Recruitment is a specialist catering and hospitality recruiter. We work with restaurants, hotels, schools, and contract caterers across the UK to fill permanent chef roles with people who actually fit — not just whoever is available. If you are looking for chef jobs near you, register with us, and we will do the legwork.
Chef Roles We Place
We place chefs across the full brigade, from entry-level positions to senior kitchen leadership:
Head Chef — menu development, team leadership, kitchen management
Sous Chef — right-hand to the head chef, overseeing day-to-day operations and food standards
Chef de Partie — section lead, running a specific station with precision and consistency
Commis Chef — the ideal starting point for ambitious cooks building experience and confidence
Catering Manager — overseeing broader foodservice operations, often in contract or education settings
We also fill catering jobs across a wide range of settings. If you have experience in restaurants, hotels, school kitchens, care homes, or contract catering, we have clients who want to meet you.
Why Register With Pineapple?
Most job boards treat you as a CV to be filtered. We work differently.
Pineapple deliberately limits the number of clients we work with. That means we know each employer properly — their kitchen culture, what they expect from their team, and what kind of chef thrives there. When we put your name forward, it is because we believe the role is genuinely right for you.
We focus on permanent placements. These are career moves, not gap-fillers. Every role we work on is one we would take ourselves seriously, and we stay in contact with both sides after the placement to make sure it sticks.
The chefs we place are matched on skills, experience, and fit — not just availability. That distinction matters, especially in a market where good candidates have options.
How It Works
Getting started takes minutes. Here is what happens next:
Register — send us your CV and a brief note on what you are looking for
Speak to the team — we will call you to understand your experience, your preferences, and what good looks like for your next role.
Get matched — we introduce you to the right employers and manage the process from first contact to offer
We keep you updated at every stage: no chasing, no silence, no surprises.
Frequently Asked Questions
What chef jobs are available near me?
Our live vacancies cover roles across the UK in restaurants, hotels, schools, care homes, and contract catering. The fastest way to see what is available right now is to browse our vacancies page or register directly — we will match you to suitable roles as soon as they come in.
Do I need a formal qualification to register?
No. Many of our clients prioritise experience and attitude over qualifications, particularly for commis and chef de partie roles. Qualifications such as City & Guilds Level 2 can strengthen your application, but they are not a requirement to register.
Does Pineapple place chefs in schools and contract catering?
Yes. Alongside restaurants and hotels, we work with clients in education, healthcare, and contract catering — settings that suit chefs who want structured hours, stable environments, and a different pace to commercial kitchens.
The right chef job is not just about the salary or the location. It is about a kitchen where you can do your best work. We make it our job to find that match.