Catering Manager

Sodexo; Derby; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 19,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Mental health support

Employee assistance

Wellbeing app access

Discount scheme

Retirement plan

Death in service

Cycle to work

Volunteering opportunities

Flexible work environment

Full training and uniform provided

Job summary

Sodexo invites applications for a school kitchen leadership role covering the Derby area. You will oversee all aspects of on-site food and beverage operations, manage finances, and ensure top-quality service to students and staff.

Lead, train and mentor the kitchen team while maintaining stringent health and safety standards. The role focuses on large-scale cooking, menu development, and cost control, with travel between sites and a driving licence required.

Qualifications

• Experience cooking on a large scale for 100–1300 students and staff.
• Strong focus on food safety and health & safety procedures.
• Prior staff supervision or line management experience.
• Ability to follow recipes and lead kitchen teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage replenishment of food and dismantling of service areas.
• Develop, mentor, and train the kitchen team.
• Control catering operation costs including labour, food and stock.
• Manage and optimise all costs under your control.
• Ensure consistent food and service standards for staff, visitors and students.
• Create and develop menus.
• Conduct routine audits to ensure standards are followed.
• Travel to different sites as needed; travel expenses reimbursed; probation retention bonuses.

Skills

Large-scale cooking

Staff supervision

Menu development

Health & safety

Budget control

Education

NVQ Level 2

Level 2 Food Safety Certificate

Job description

Covering Derby area, you will oversee all aspects of the food and beverage operations as well as the finances for your school's kitchen. You will be responsible for ensuring that the food and level of service are of the highest calibre and that the school catering is among the best in the region. Your attitude will influence your team's daily lives as the person they go to for direction and support, which will in turn foster a vibrant and productive work environment. As well as this, you will not work unsociable hours and you will get public holidays off… including Christmas! 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., ALL TRAVEL EXPENSES ARE REIMBURSED Retention BONUS for all attached mobile roles - £200 on successful completion of 12 week probation, further £300 after 52 weeks comple
  Full UK Driving Licence required for this position and own vehicle required for this role as travel to a different site each day may be required.
• 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.

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).

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 are 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.

Working with Sodexo

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.

Benefits

• 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 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., £15 per hour
• 30 hours per week
• Working pattern: Monday - Friday
• Term Time only (39 week Working Contract paid over 52 weeks)
• This position requires and Driving Licence and access to a vehicle