Catering Manager

Teaching Vacancies; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local educational institution is seeking a dedicated Catering Manager to oversee all catering services. The successful candidate will lead a team to deliver high-quality meals while maintaining safety and budget standards. Responsibilities include preparing meals, innovating menus, and managing staff effectively. Join a positive school culture that values every team member and is committed to safeguarding children and promoting welfare through rigorous background checks.

Benefits

Positive and welcoming school culture

Access to professional development

Supportive leadership structure

Qualifications

• Experience in managing catering services within a school environment.
• Ability to lead and motivate a team effectively.
• Knowledge of health, safety, and hygiene regulations in catering.

Responsibilities

• Manage and control all catering services according to school specifications.
• Lead and motivate the catering team to deliver high-quality meals.
• Ensure prompt preparation of all meals and menu innovation.

Job description

What skills and experience we're looking for

As the Catering Manager, you will manage and control all catering services according to school specifications. You will lead and motivate a team of catering staff to deliver high-quality, pupil-focused meals while maintaining strict budgetary and safety standards.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Culinary Excellence: Ensuring prompt preparation of all meals, breaks, and hospitality requirements using high-standard "scratch cooking".
• Menu Innovation: Planning balanced, multi-choice menus that meet nutritional standards and cater to diverse dietary and cultural needs.
• Team Leadership: Managing, recruiting and training the catering team, including conducting performance management and organising staff cover.
• Operational Control: Managing raw materials, portion control, and all administrative returns (weekly and monthly) accurately and on time.
• Service Growth: Organising theme days and promotions to actively encourage pupils to use the service and grow catering sales.
• Safety & Standards: Maintaining legal and school standards for health, safety and hygiene, including the daily use of "Safer Food Better Business" (SFBB).

What the school offers its staff

We offer a positive, welcoming school culture built on mutual respect and shared values.

Pupils who are eager to learn, kind, and full of potential.

A collaborative staff team and a highly supportive leadership structure.

Access to trust-wide professional development and wellbeing support.

A school where every team member is valued, encouraged and empowered.

Commitment to safeguarding.

Safeguarding Commitment & Background Checks

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):

• childcare disqualification
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
• medical
• online and social media prohibition
• from teaching
• right to work
• satisfactory references
• suitability to work with children
• you must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.