Catering Manager

Education Authority Northern Ireland; Downpatrick; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A local educational authority is seeking a Catering Manager responsible for the daily management of kitchen operations, leading a team to deliver services efficiently to children and staff. Responsibilities include skilled cooking, supervising staff, ensuring compliance with food safety regulations, and managing finances. Ideal candidates will have relevant qualifications in food preparation, experience in managing a team, and strong IT skills. The role offers a salary of £16.5261 to £17.3651 per hour, 35 hours a week, Monday to Friday.

Qualifications

• Hold NVQ level 2 in food preparation and cooking or equivalent qualification.
• Evidence of effective supervision or management experience.
• Demonstrable experience in stock control and budget management.
• Knowledge of HACCP regulations.
• Knowledge of special diets including allergens.
• Willing to undertake job related training.
• Demonstrable experience in IT skills.
• Experience of delivering training.

Responsibilities

• Execute skilled cooking activities and manage food preparation.
• Organise food service aspects and transportation of meals.
• Monitor financial performance and maintain budget targets.
• Supervise and direct employees and allocate duties.
• Complete clerical duties related to kitchen management.

Skills

Experience in food preparation and cooking

Supervision or management of a catering team

Stock control and budget management

Knowledge of HACCP

Knowledge of special diets

IT skills including MS Office

Experience of delivering training

Education

NVQ level 2 in food preparation and cooking or equivalent

Job description

We are recruiting for a Catering Manager. The Catering Manager is responsible for the efficient day-to-day management of the kitchen. Leadership and team participation are essential to provide a quality catering service to our children, young people, and staff.

Responsibilities

• Execute skilled cooking activities and innovation connected to the full range of menu provisions, for example, preparation of menus, portion control, plating presentation, special dietary meals, including the texture modification of food.
• Organise and supervise all aspects of food service, including service points and the transportation of meals, if required.
• Follow EA policies and procedures for safe cooking and food service to meet current standards of food safety legislation.
• Efficient management of the teams, ensuring we deliver a high-quality service.
• Supervise and direct employees, including allocating duties and work rotas. Where employed at a transporting kitchen, duties also incorporate the Catering Assistants' work routine and the dining centres' operational issues, including regular visits.
• Monitor the unit's financial performance, maintain costs within pre‑budgeted targets, and assist in implementing financial procedures and activities within the catering service.
• Complete clerical duties, i.e., bookwork, ordering of goods, and accident reporting, associated with the efficient running of the kitchen.
• All duties will be carried out to comply with the following: Acts of Parliament, Statutory Legislation and Regulations and other legal requirements. Codes of Practice, HACCP (Hazard analysis of critical control points) regulations.
• Attend training sessions as scheduled and team meetings as required, including sessions during school closure periods.

Skills and Qualifications

• Hold either NVQ level 2 in food preparation and cooking or City & Guilds 706‑1 & 706‑2 or equivalent or higher relevant qualification or Two years’ experience of food preparation and cooking within a catering establishment.
• Evidence of effective supervision or management of a catering team.
• Demonstrable experience in stock control, budget management and financial controls.
• Knowledge of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP).
• Knowledge of the provision of special diets, e.g. allergens and ethnic diets.
• Willing to undertake job related training.
• Please provide sufficient information below to satisfy that you have access to an appropriate alternative form of transport that will enable you to carry out the mobility requirements of this post in an efficient and effective manner.
• Demonstrable experience in IT skills, including MS Outlook, Excel, Word, and Teams.
• Experience of delivering training.

Further Information

Location: St Brigid's Primary School, Downpatrick. Salary £16.5261 to £17.3651 per hour. Contract Type: Permanent. Weekly hours: 35. Worktime: Monday - Friday, (7:30‑3pm with 1/2 hour lunch unpaid). Published date: 03/12/2025. Closing date: 17/12/2025. The Education Authority is an equal opportunities employer.