Catering Manager: Lead Kitchen, Service & Compliance

Education Authority (Northern Ireland); Banbridge; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Education Authority (Northern Ireland) seeks a Catering Manager to lead day-to-day kitchen operations across dining centres and production kitchens, ensuring high-quality meals for children, young people, and staff.

You will oversee menu development, portion control, dietary requirements, stock management, and compliance with HACCP. Strong leadership, planning, and customer-service skills are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Hold NVQ level 2 in food preparation and cooking or City & Guilds 706-1 & 706-2 or equivalent or higher relevant qualification OR have two years’ demonstrable experience in 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.
• A willingness to undertake job-related training.
• Have access to a suitable vehicle (appropriately maintained and insured for Education Authority business) that will enable you to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner; OR Provide sufficient information to satisfy the employer that you have access to an appropriate alternative form of transport that will enable you to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner.

Responsibilities

• Execute skilled cooking activities and innovation connected to the full range of menu provisions, including special dietary meals.
• Organise and supervise all aspects of food service and distribution of meals.
• Manage dining centre kitchens and production kitchen.
• Follow policies for safe cooking and food service to current HACCP standards.
• Maintain allergen information and up-to-date Allergen Matrix.
• Record food temperatures and maintain required records.
• Manage deliveries, ordering, stock and wastage for food safety.
• Ensure safe operation and maintenance of kitchen equipment.
• Promote catering to parents, principals, pupils and customers to increase uptake.
• Establish communication with school on service delivery and handle complaints.

Skills

Leadership

Interpersonal skills

Planning & organisation

Decision-making

Sales skills

Customer service

Team player

Education

NVQ2 in Food Prep

City & Guilds 706-1/706-2

Two years catering experience

Tools

MS Outlook

Excel

Word

Teams

Job description

Education Authority (Northern Ireland) seeks a Catering Manager to lead day-to-day kitchen operations across dining centres and production kitchens, ensuring high-quality meals for children, young people, and staff.

You will oversee menu development, portion control, dietary requirements, stock management, and compliance with HACCP. Strong leadership, planning, and customer-service skills are essential for success.