Catering Manager

Service Care; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Service Care Solutions are recruiting for an experienced Catering Manager to join the catering team at a School in Sunderland. You will lead a busy school kitchen, oversee food preparation, manage stock and ordering, and ensure hygiene and allergen compliance while delivering high-quality meals for pupils and staff.

The role involves day-to-day kitchen operations, budget monitoring, and developing the catering provision in a school setting.

Qualifications

• Experience managing or supervising a catering/kitchen team.
• Strong knowledge of food hygiene, health & safety and allergen requirements.
• Experience with stock control, ordering and managing food costs.

Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day operation of the school kitchen and catering service.
• Lead, support and motivate the catering team.
• Organise food preparation and ensure high standards of meals.
• Monitor budgets, stock levels and food wastage.
• Maintain accurate catering records and liaise with staff.

Skills

Catering management

Team leadership

Food hygiene knowledge

Stock control

Budget management

Education

Level 3 Food Hygiene

Job description

Catering Manager – Sunderland

£18.00 per hour PAYE | £22.57 per hour Umbrella inc Holiday 36 hours per week Full Time | Temporary / Ongoing

Service Care Solutions are recruiting for an experienced Catering Manager to join the catering team at a School in Sunderland . This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced catering professional to take responsibility for the day-to-day running of a busy school kitchen, ensuring pupils and staff receive a high-quality, nutritious and efficient catering service. The successful candidate will lead the catering team, oversee food preparation and service, manage stock and ordering, and ensure the kitchen operates in line with all relevant food hygiene, health and safety and allergen requirements.

The Role

As Catering Manager, you will be responsible for the smooth and effective running of the school's catering operation. Key duties will include:

• Managing the day-to-day operation of the school kitchen and catering service.
• Leading, supporting and motivating the catering team.
• Organising food preparation and ensuring meals are prepared and served to a high standard.
• Supporting menu planning and ensuring meals meet nutritional and dietary requirements.
• Managing food orders, stock levels and food wastage.
• Monitoring catering expenditure and working within agreed budgets.
• Ensuring excellent standards of food hygiene, cleanliness and health & safety.
• Ensuring food allergen procedures are followed correctly.
• Maintaining accurate catering records and documentation.
• Liaising with school staff and management to ensure the catering service meets the needs of pupils and staff.
• Supporting the development and improvement of the catering provision.
• Ensuring the kitchen and dining areas are maintained to a consistently high standard.
• Taking responsibility for resolving day-to-day operational issues within the kitchen.

About You

We are looking for an organised, reliable and hands‑on catering professional who is confident managing a busy kitchen and leading a team. The successful candidate will ideally have:

• Previous experience as a Catering Manager, Kitchen Manager, Cook Manager, Chef Manager or Catering Supervisor .
• Experience managing or supervising a catering/kitchen team.
• Strong knowledge of food hygiene, health & safety and allergen requirements.
• Experience with stock control, ordering and managing food costs.
• The ability to work within budgets and monitor expenditure.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• A professional and positive approach to working with pupils, staff and colleagues.
• The ability to remain calm and organised in a busy environment.
• Good attention to detail and high standards of cleanliness.
• A relevant Food Hygiene qualification, ideally Level 3 , would be advantageous.
• Previous experience within a school, education, care or other high-volume catering environment would be beneficial.

Why Apply?

This is a great opportunity for an experienced catering professional to work within an established secondary school environment in Sunderland. The role offers a Monday-to-Friday school-based working environment , with the opportunity to use your catering management experience in a setting where the quality of food and service has a direct impact on pupils and staff.