JobsCloseBy Editorial Insights

Pret A Manger is hiring a Kitchen Leader in Canterbury for a full-time role (35 hours). You’ll lead a kitchen team, ensure high quality food, manage stock and safety, and support shift performance with Managers to deliver a fresh customer experience. The ideal candidate is warm, energetic and driven to help others grow, with a proven ability to lead, protect profit and uphold Pret values. The package includes £15.10 per hour, 28 days leave, pension, healthcare, free meals and Club Pret benefits, plus growth paths via Level 3 apprenticeships. Interviews start with a phone screen and a 60-minute shop interview; diverse applicants welcome and adjustments available. Be yourself and share real examples of leadership and service.

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Kitchen Leader 

Full Time 35 hours per week 

Pret here! We’re proud makers of delicious food, organic coffee and big ideas across 750+ shops in 20+ countries.  

Whether you’re making our customers’ days with the perfect latte or leading your team to success, roles in Pret shops come with huge opportunities for growth. Together, we’re doing the right thing and growing fast – it’s an exciting team to hop on board! 

This role is located in Canterbury, The Parade, Unit 7, The Parade, Canterbury CT1 2JL GBR

Growing Good Things 

 

Pret is where passionate, hardworking, wonderful people (like you!) find the confidence and skills they need to grow and choose their unique paths. And the proof is in the pudding – 80%+ of our Managers and 20% of our Support Centre teams (including our CEO, Pano) started on the shop floor. 

 

What we’re looking for 

 

As a Kitchen Leader at Pret a Manger, you’ll play a key role in ensuring the consistent preparation of delicious food that meets our high standards, while leading and inspiring your team to deliver excellence every day. You’ll act as a role model, promoting Pret’s core values and maintaining a safe, clean, and compliant kitchen environment. With a sharp eye for detail, you’ll manage stock counts and complete administrative tasks accurately to support smooth operations. Working closely with Managers, you’ll help oversee shift performance, resolve issues quickly, and ensure every customer enjoys a fresh and satisfying experience.

 

About you 

 

• Be kind, honest and generous: bring genuine warmth and your authentic self to work every day. 

• Bring your passion: share our passion for exceptional customer service. 

• Spread joy every day: small acts of kindness (like giving away a free coffee on the house) are a big part of what makes the Pret experience special. 

• Experience needed: You lead with purpose—driving team performance, protecting profit, and keeping customers happy through high standards and great energy.  

 

We offer 

 

• Hourly rate is £15.10 (inclusive of mystery shopper bonus) 

• After initial training, earn an extra £5 per hour for any shift started between 3-5am  

• 28 days annual leave (pro-rata if you're part-time) 

• Pension scheme 
• Life Assurance at 3x annual salary & virtual GP  

• Healthcare cash plan  

• Free food and drink while you’re working 

• And when you’re not, you’ll have our Club Pret Membership (giving you 50% off food and to 5 free Barista-made drinks a day) 

• Loyalty award after 5, 10, 15, 20 years’ service 

• Regular rewards and recognition for amazing standards 

• Access marketplace discounts on shopping, travel, fitness, dining, tech and more 

• Flexible working hours, means you have the time to do what’s important to you  

• Comfy free shoes to wear on shift 

 

We also offer 

 

• Individual ways to grow – We offer lots of opportunities for learning, whether you join us for a short stint or the long game, you’re good to grow with us. Including fully funded professional qualifications – apprenticeships Level 3 and internal transfer opportunities to explore. 

• Diversity and belonging – Everyone is welcome at Pret, we want you to feel confident and valued for who you are and to truly belong. 

• Pace and variety - Our work is fast paced with lots of variety, you’ll build a diverse skill set and learn a lot!   

• Community and purpose - We’re proud to make a difference through The Pret Foundation, from tackling homelessness to reducing food waste and creating positive change for people and communities. 

 

Our values 

 

• Happy Teams Happy Customers  

• Amazing Standards Every day 

• Never Standing Still  

• Doing The Right Thing  

 

The interview journey 

 

• Every interview process at Pret begins with the same two stages. Initial phone screening and 60-minute shop-based interview with the General Manager and the team 

• Everyone is welcome at Pret. We encourage applications from underrepresented groups, including women, people with disabilities, neurodiversity, ethnic minorities, and the LGBTQ+ community. Please let our recruitment team know if you need any adjustments or support during the recruitment process – your experience matters to us.  

  

We’d love to get to know you, not a robot, so please do not rely on AI to complete your application.