Catering Manager

Sodexo Group; Coventry; Hybrid; GBP 21,000 - 24,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Term Time Only contract

Paid over 52 weeks

Public holidays off

Mental health & wellbeing support

Employee Assistance Programme

Discount scheme for Sodexo staff

Job summary

Sodexo at Caludon Castle School in Coventry is seeking a Catering Manager to head the school catering operation, including service, team leadership, menu development and financial management.

You’ll lead the kitchen, ensuring high-quality food and service for pupils, staff and visitors, while fostering a positive team environment and maintaining safety standards.

Qualifications

• Experience cooking on a large scale (100–1300 pupils/customers).
• Experience in a catering/education or similar large-scale food environment.
• Experience following recipes and using fresh produce.
• Previous staff supervision or line management experience.
• Strong understanding of food safety and health & safety.
• Hands-on cooking experience (at least 1 year).
• NVQ Level 2 or equivalent catering qualification.
• Level 2 Food Safety Certificate.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day catering operations ensuring high food and service standards.
• Lead, mentor, train and inspire the kitchen team.
• Control labour, food and stock costs to optimise performance.
• Monitor and reduce costs within your area of responsibility.
• Manage food replenishment and ensure end-of-service clearance.
• Develop and manage menus meeting pupils, staff and visitor needs.
• Ensure consistency in food quality, presentation and service.
• Carry out regular audits for food safety, hygiene and standards.
• Ensure health and safety procedures are followed.
• Create a positive working environment and lead by example.

Skills

Large-scale catering

Staff supervision

Food safety

Allergen awareness

Time management

Menu development

Education

NVQ Level 2

Level 2 Food Safety Certificate

Job description

Join Our Team as a Catering Manager - Make an Impact Every Day

Location: Caludon Castle School, Axholme Rd, Coventry CV2 5BD
Days/Shift Pattern: Monday - Friday
Working Hours: 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Total Hours Per Week: 35 per week
Salary: £16.00 per hour
Contract: Term Time Only - 39 weeks, paid over 52 weeks**

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 only receiving pay during the months that you work. This means you receive equal amounts of pay every month. Further information will be provided at interview stage.

About the Role

"A role where you can bring your passion for food"

As Catering Manager at Sodexo at Caludon Castle School in Coventry, you’ll take responsibility for the school’s entire catering operation, including food service, team leadership, menu development and financial management.

As the head of the school catering department, you’ll play a key role in ensuring pupils, staff and visitors receive high-quality food and excellent service every day.

You’ll lead and support your kitchen team, creating a positive and productive working environment where people feel valued, motivated and supported. You’ll also have the opportunity to bring your passion for food to life through fresh ingredients, great menus and consistently high standards.

And with a Monday-to-Friday working pattern, no unsociable hours and public holidays off - including Christmas, this is a great opportunity to enjoy a rewarding career alongside a fantastic work-life balance.

What You'll Be Doing

• Managing the day-to-day catering operation, ensuring food and service standards are consistently high.
• Leading, mentoring, training and inspiring the kitchen team.
• Managing labour, food and stock costs to ensure the catering operation performs effectively.
• Controlling and optimising all costs within your area of responsibility.
• Managing food replenishment and ensuring work areas are properly cleared and prepared at the end of service.
• Developing and managing menus that meet the needs of pupils, staff and visitors.
• Ensuring consistency in food quality, presentation and service standards.
• Carrying out regular audits to ensure food safety, hygiene and operational standards are maintained.
• Ensuring all health and safety procedures are followed.
• Creating a positive working environment and leading by example.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for a passionate catering professional who enjoys leading people and delivering great food.

You’ll ideally have:

• Experience cooking on a large scale, ideally catering for anywhere between 100 and 1,300 pupils or customers.
• Previous experience working in a catering, education or similar large-scale food environment.
• Experience following recipes and working with fresh produce and ingredients.
• Previous staff supervision or line management experience.
• A strong understanding of food safety, health and safety and allergen requirements.
• The ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines in a busy kitchen environment.
• A professional approach, with the ability to lead by example and maintain a positive attitude.
• NVQ Level 2 or equivalent catering qualification.
• Level 2 Food Safety Certificate.
• At least one year’s hands-on cooking experience.

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, act with purpose through your everyday actions and have opportunities to thrive in your own way.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Competitive pay and excellent Sodexo benefits.
• Monday-to-Friday working pattern.
• Term Time Only contract, paid over 52 weeks.
• Public holidays off, including Christmas.
• Unlimited access to an online platform offering mental health and wellbeing support.
• Employee Assistance Programme, including legal and financial support.
• Access to a health and wellbeing app with rewards and a 24-hour virtual GP.
• Exclusive discounts through the Sodexo Discounts Scheme for you, your family and friends.
• Money Insights and financial benefits through the Salary Finance Platform.
• Sodexo Retirement Plan to help you save for your future.
• Death in Service benefit.
• Learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Volunteering opportunities to support worthwhile causes in our communities.
• A flexible and dynamic working environment.
• Full training and protective uniform provided

Ready to Be Part of Something Greater?

If you’re passionate about food, enjoy leading a team and want a role where you can make a real difference every day, we’d love to hear from you.

Join Sodexo and become part of a team that creates great food experiences for pupils, staff and visitors every day.

Please note: 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 (DBS) and/or Disclosure Scotland.

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