Catering Manager

Coast and Vale Learning Trust; Sefton; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Term-time schedule

Job summary

Endeavour Learning Trust is seeking a Catering Manager to lead the school catering operation, ensuring meals are prepared to high standards and safety guidelines are followed. You will oversee a team, manage ordering and stock, and collaborate with school leaders to meet pupils’ nutritional needs.

The role is part time, term time plus 1 week, with a 35-hour week from Monday to Friday. Prior school catering experience is valued, with relevant food safety qualifications preferred.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a school, nursery, childcare or catering environment would be advantageous.
• Strong leadership, organisation and customer‑service skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support the catering team to deliver high standards of meals.
• Oversee ordering, stock control and menu planning within budget and safety guidelines.
• Ensure dietary requirements and allergies are carefully managed.

Skills

Team leadership

Menu planning

Food safety

Stock management

Budgeting

Customer service

Education

Food safety qualification

Catering qualification

Job description

Are you organised, energetic and passionate about providing children with healthy, nutritious and enjoyable meals? Do you take pride in high standards and enjoy leading a team in a busy and rewarding environment? We are looking for an enthusiastic and proactive Catering Manager to join our school community and lead the day-to-day delivery of our catering provision. Our catering service plays an important part in school life, providing nutritious and balanced meals that support children's wellbeing, development and ability to learn. We are looking for someone who will bring enthusiasm, creativity and a strong commitment to delivering an excellent service for our pupils, staff and families.

This is a varied and hands‑on role, combining team leadership, menu planning, food safety, stock management, budgeting and customer service, making it ideal for someone who enjoys working with people while also being highly organised and commercially aware.

About the Role

As our Catering Manager, you will take overall responsibility for the smooth and effective running of the school's catering operation. You will lead and support the catering team, ensuring that meals are prepared and served to a consistently high standard and that the kitchen operates safely, efficiently and within budget.

You will oversee ordering, stock control and menu planning, while ensuring that dietary requirements, allergies and nutritional standards are carefully managed. You will also work closely with school leaders to develop and maintain a catering service that reflects the needs of our children and the wider school community.

Previous experience in a school, nursery, childcare or catering environment would be advantageous, as would relevant food safety or catering qualifications. However, we are equally interested in candidates who can demonstrate strong leadership, organisation and customer‑service skills, together with a genuine passion for providing excellent food for children.

If you are someone who takes pride in their work, enjoys being part of a school community and wants to make a positive difference to children's daily experience at school, we would love to hear from you.

This role is part time, permanent and term time plus 1 week. The working pattern for this role is Monday to Friday 7:30am to 3:00pm working 35 hours per week.

For any further information, please feel free to get in touch with our Operations Manager, Claire via [e-mail]

SAFEGUARDING

Endeavour Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and individually take responsibility for doing so.

Please note that in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education, an online search will be carried out as part of our due diligence on shortlisted candidates.