Assistant Cook

Sodexo Group; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 16,000 - 18,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing support

Employee Assistance Programme

Wellbeing app

Virtual GP 24/7

Colleague discounts

Retirement plan

Life assurance

Uniform provided

Job summary

Sodexo Group is hiring an Assistant Cook for a school site in Manchester. The role supports the Cook Manager, helping to prepare and serve nutritious meals for students and staff.

The position offers 30 hours per week, Monday to Friday, with term-time only scheduling (39 weeks) and permanent, part-time terms. The pay is £13.85 per hour, with holidays and a balanced work-life structure.

Qualifications

• Hands-on cooking experience in catering, hospitality, education, care or food service.
• Ability to follow recipes and portion controls consistently.
• Good understanding of food hygiene and health & safety practices.
• Organised and able to manage time effectively in a fast-paced kitchen.
• Strong team player with clear communication.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, cook and serve meals in line with company standards.
• Support breakfast, breaktime, lunch and event catering as required.
• Work with fresh ingredients to create nutritious meals.
• Present food attractively and maintain high presentation standards.
• Follow recipes, portions, and menu specifications.
• Assist with stock rotation, deliveries and storage.
• Maintain kitchen cleanliness and hygiene to HACCP standards.
• Complete daily and weekly cleaning schedules.
• Adhere to food safety, allergen and health & safety procedures.
• Support colleagues and contribute to a positive team environment.
• Deliver excellent customer service to students, staff and visitors.

Skills

Cooking Experience

Food Safety

Time Management

Teamwork

Communication

Education

Basic Food Handling Certification

Job description

Assistant Cook

Location: Oasis Academy Temple, Smedley Ln, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M8 8SA
Pay: £13.85 per hour
Hours: 30 hours per week
Working Pattern: Monday–Friday, 07:30am–13:30pm
Contract: Term Time Only – 39 weeks, Permanent, Part Time

A role that fits around your life

If you're passionate about cooking and looking for a role that offers a fantastic work-life balance, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.

Join Sodexo as an Assistant Cook and enjoy a rewarding role where you'll help prepare and serve nutritious meals in a school environment—without the unsociable hours often associated with hospitality and catering.

With school holidays, public holidays, and Christmas off, you'll have more time to spend doing the things that matter most.

About the Role

As an Assistant Cook, you'll support the Cook Manager in delivering delicious, nutritious meals to students and staff.

You'll play an important role in preparing, cooking, presenting, and serving food while helping to maintain high standards of food safety, cleanliness, and customer service.

This is a hands‑on role where you'll be actively involved in the kitchen and take pride in creating meals that support students throughout their school day.

What You’ll Do

• Preparing, cooking, and serving meals in line with company standards
• Supporting breakfast, breaktime, lunch, hospitality, and special event catering where required
• Working with fresh ingredients to create nutritious and appealing meals
• Ensuring food is presented attractively and served to the highest standards
• Following recipes, portion controls, and menu specifications
• Assisting with stock rotation, deliveries, and food storage
• Maintaining high standards of food hygiene and kitchen cleanliness
• Completing daily and weekly cleaning schedules
• Following Food Safety, HACCP, COSHH, allergen, and Health & Safety procedures
• Supporting colleagues and contributing to a positive team environment
• Delivering excellent customer service to students, staff, and visitors

What We’re Looking For

We're looking for an enthusiastic and reliable Assistant Cook who takes pride in preparing great food and enjoys working as part of a busy kitchen team.

You will have:

• Previous hands‑on cooking experience within a catering, hospitality, education, care, or food service environment
• Experience preparing and cooking meals using fresh ingredients
• The ability to follow recipes, portion controls, and company standards consistently
• A good understanding of food hygiene, food safety, and health & safety practices
• Strong organisational and time‑management skills
• The ability to work efficiently in a fast‑paced kitchen environment
• A positive, professional, and team‑focused attitude
• Excellent communication skills and a willingness to support colleagues
• Basic Food Handling certification (or willingness to obtain)
• Ideally, you'll have experience catering for large numbers of people and be confident preparing high‑quality meals while maintaining excellent standards of presentation, cleanliness, and customer service.

What We Offer

Working with Sodexo is more than a job — it’s a chance to be part of a team where you’re valued and supported. We’re committed to helping our colleagues grow, feel well and succeed.

You’ll have access to wellbeing and mental health support, an Employee Assistance Programme for everyday advice and guidance, and a wellbeing app with rewards for healthy living and access to a 24/7 virtual GP.

We also offer colleague discounts for you, your friends and family, financial wellbeing tools, a retirement plan and life assurance. Alongside competitive pay, you’ll benefit from learning and development opportunities, volunteering initiatives, a Cycle to Work scheme, and a supportive working environment — with full training and uniform provided.

Additional Information

Term Time Only – Equated Pay
This role works 39 weeks per year. Your salary will be paid in equal monthly instalments across 12 months, meaning you receive consistent pay throughout the year, including during school closure periods.

Further details will be provided during the interview process.

Sodexo and our clients are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Certain roles will require applicants to undergo appropriate screening, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Sodexo reserves the right to close this advert early if we receive a high number of applications.