Area Chef Manager

Sodexo; Stourbridge; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing support platform

Employee Assistance Programme

Sodexo Discounts Scheme

Retirement Plan

Cycle to Work

Job summary

Sodexo is seeking an Area Chef Manager to oversee school catering operations across the Stourbridge and Halesowen area of the West Midlands. You will lead multiple school teams, drive quality, service and food safety, and monitor financial performance to ensure excellent pupil, staff and visitor experiences.

You will work hands-on with teams to identify improvements, provide operational support, and maintain positive relationships with schools, staff and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Experience cooking for large groups (100–1300 students).
• Previous staff supervision or line management experience.
• Experience working with fresh produce and ingredients.
• Awareness of health and safety procedures and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end catering operations across multiple schools.
• Develop and mentor kitchen teams; provide training and guidance.
• Control labour, food and stock costs to protect margins.
• Ensure consistent food and service standards across sites.
• Create and develop menus aligned with pupil needs and budgets.
• Conduct routine audits to ensure compliance with standards.

Skills

Large scale cooking

Staff supervision

Food safety

Leadership

Time management

Education

NVQ Level 2

Level 2 Food Safety Certificate

Job description

As an Area Chef Manager for Sodexo, you will oversee catering operations across a portfolio of schools in the Stourbridge and Halesowen area of the West Midlands. You will be responsible for supporting and developing multiple school catering teams, ensuring consistently high standards of food quality, service, food safety and financial performance across your sites.

This is a hands‑on leadership role where you will work closely with individual school teams and management to identify opportunities for improvement, provide operational support and ensure each catering operation delivers an excellent service to pupils, staff and visitors.

Your leadership style will play an important role in supporting and motivating your teams, creating a positive working environment and maintaining strong relationships with schools.

The role offers a Monday‑to‑Friday working pattern, with no regular unsociable hours and public holidays off, including Christmas, in line with the contract.

Join Sodexo and be part of something greater. You belong in a team where you can act with purpose and thrive in your own way.

s!

Join Sodexo andbe part of something greater. You belong in a team where you can act with purpose and thrive in your own way.

What you do

• Manage the replenishment of food and the dismantling of work areas at the end of service.
• Develop, mentor, conduct training, and inspire the kitchen team.
• Control the complete catering operation, including labour, food, and stock expenses.
• Manage and optimise all costs that are under your control.
• Ensure uniformity in the food and service standards provided to fellow staff members, visitors and students.
• Manage the creation and development of menus.
• Conduct routine audits to ensure standards are being followed.

What you bring

• Must have expertise on cooking on a large scale, anywhere between 100 - 1300 students.
• Have experience following recipes, possibly in a similar setting.
• Have previous staff supervision experience or line management experience.
• Have experience working with fresh produce and ingredients.
• Be aware of the importance of adhering to health and safety procedures.
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines in a busy Kitchen environment.
• Be professional, leading by example and having a positive outlook is key.
• Hold basic food handling skills certification:
  • NVQ Level 2
  • Level 2 Food safety Certificate
  • A minimum of 1 years of experience in hands on cooking, training on Food Hygiene, and Health & Safety will be given.

What we offer

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it's a chance to be part of something greater. You'll belong in a company and team that values you for you; you'll act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions; and you'll be able to thrive in your own way. In addition, we also offer a range of resources, rewards and benefits for our colleagues and their families:

• Unlimited access to an online platform offering mental health and wellbeing support.
• Employee Assistance Programme to help with everyday issues or larger problems where you may need additional support, including legal and financial advice, support with work related issues or personal issues such as bereavement.
• Access to a free health and wellbeing app that provides rewards for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and includes access to a 24hr virtual GP and various other services.
• The Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering great deals 24/7 (also open to friends and family) and/or the prepayment cashback card.
• Money Insights and financial benefits via the Salary Finance Platform.
• Save for your future by becoming a member of the Sodexo Retirement Plan
• A death in Service benefit for colleagues who pass away whilst employed by Sodexo
• Opportunities to enable colleagues to grow and succeed throughout their career at Sodexo, including a variety of learning and development tools.
• Cycle to Work Scheme to help colleagues to do their bit for the environment whilst keeping fit.
• Volunteering Opportunities to enable all colleagues to help support worthwhile causes in our communities.
• Flexible and dynamic work environment
• Competitive compensation
• Full training and full protective uniform supplied.

**Sodexo and our Clients are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Certain roles will require applicants to undergo screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (UK) and / or Disclosure Scotland (Scotland)**

*Sodexo reserves the right to close this advert early if we are in receipt of a high number of application

Package Description

For a job that's a perfect mix of passion, perks and potential

• £16.00 per hour
• 37.5hours per week
• Working pattern: Monday - Friday 8am -3pm
• Term Time only(39week Working Contract paid over 52 weeks)**
• Driving License and access to your own required

ALL TRAVEL EXPENSES ARE REIMBURSEDRetention BONUS for all attached mobile roles - £200 on successful completion of 12 week probation, further £300 after 52 weeks complete employment in role.

**Equated pay (sometimes known as spread-over pay) is a method of paying you for your contracted hours, working weeks and holiday pay spread over 12 months instead of just receiving pay during the months that you work and none during the school closures/non-working weeks. This means that you get paid equal amounts of pay every month. Further information will be supplied at interview stage.**

About The Company

About Sodexo

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better every day for everyone to build a better life for all. As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100 million consumers each day through our unique combination of On-Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer. We are a forces friendly employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds and identities. We encourage our employees to get involved with our Employee Networks such as Pride, Sodexo Parents & Carers, Sodexo Disability, Ability network, So Together, Generations and Origins.

We're a Disability Confident Leader employer. We're committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations. We run a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.