Catering Team Leader

Sodexo; West Calder; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sodexo retirement plan

Discounts across 1,900+ brands

Gym discounts

Employee Assistance Programme 24/7

Job summary

Sodexo is seeking a Catering Manager at HMP Addiewell to lead a high-volume catering operation for 400 staff and ~890 prisoners. You will manage a main kitchen, drive quality, safety, and service standards, and develop a team across the operation.

The role requires experience in bulk catering, strong leadership, and a focus on delivering nutritional, compliant menus while mentoring staff for future employment after release.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a catering team in bulk/high-volume settings.
• Ability to plan menus meeting nutritional, dietary, ethnic and cultural needs.
• Proven budgeting and P&L management for catering operations.
• Strong communication, organisation and people-management skills.
• Relevant catering qualifications or certifications.

Responsibilities

• Leading, managing and developing the catering team, including recruitment, induction, coaching, performance management and development.
• Overseeing the main kitchen and supporting the operational teams responsible for wing-based serveries.
• Managing budgets, purchasing, stock control and the financial performance of the catering operation.
• Ensuring compliance with HACCP, food safety, health & safety, COSHH and all relevant requirements.
• Planning menus that meet nutritional, dietary, ethnic and cultural requirements.
• Managing internal and external audits and implementing action plans.
• Building relationships with clients, customers, colleagues and external partners.
• Managing catering for functions, events, religious festivals and special dietary requirements.
• Identifying opportunities to improve the service and maximise value.
• Supporting prisoner work groups by providing catering skills and qualifications for post-release employment.

Skills

Catering team leadership

Bulk/high-volume catering

Budgeting & P&L

Menu planning

People management

Communication & organisation

Education

A Level 3 Food Safety

Catering qualification (e.g. BSc Catering / NVQ 2-3)

Job description

Location: HMP Addiewell
Salary: £38,000 - £40,000 per annum
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Contract: Full-time

Be part of something greater

At HMP Addiewell, we're focused on helping individuals change the direction of their lives. As part of the Sodexo team, you'll play an important role in delivering high-quality catering services while supporting rehabilitation, skills development and positive futures beyond release.

We're looking for an experienced and passionate Catering Manager to lead our catering operation and main kitchen. This is a fantastic opportunity for an inspiring people leader who can combine operational excellence, commercial awareness and a genuine commitment to developing others.

The main kitchen caters for up to 400 staff and approximately 890 prisoners, making this a varied and rewarding environment where your leadership will have a real impact.

What you'll be doing

As Catering Manager, you'll take responsibility for the efficient and effective delivery of catering services across HMP Addiewell, ensuring consistently high standards of food quality, hygiene, safety and customer service.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading, managing and developing the catering team, including recruitment, induction, coaching, performance management and development.
• Overseeing the main kitchen and supporting the operational teams responsible for wing-based serveries.
• Managing budgets, purchasing, stock control and the financial performance of the catering operation.
• Ensuring compliance with HACCP, food safety, health & safety, COSHH and all relevant company and statutory requirements.
• Planning menus that meet nutritional, dietary, ethnic and cultural requirements.
• Managing internal and external audits and implementing effective action plans.
• Building strong relationships with clients, customers, colleagues and external partners.
• Managing catering for functions, events, religious festivals and special dietary requirements.
• Identifying opportunities to improve the service, introduce new ideas and maximise value.
• Supporting prisoner work groups by providing meaningful catering skills, experience and, where appropriate, qualifications to help prepare them for employment following release.

What you'll bring

We're looking for a confident catering professional with experience of managing a high-volume or industrial catering operation.

You’ll ideally have:

• Experience managing and leading a catering team.
• Proven experience in bulk catering and managing a high-level industrial catering department.
• A Level 3 Food Safety qualification.
• Proven experience managing budgets and P&L.
• Experience with purchasing, stock control and menu planning.
• Strong communication, organisation, time-management and people-management skills.
• A relevant catering qualification, such as BSc Catering, MHCIM, HND, City & Guilds 706/1 and 2, or NVQ Levels 2 and 3, together with intermediate food safety or equivalent.
• The ability to inspire, motivate and develop people to reach their full potential.
• A proven ability to introduce and implement new ideas.

Experience working within a custodial environment, an assessor qualification, or additional qualifications such as NEBOSH, IOSH Managing Safely or HACCP would be advantageous.

Why Sodexo?

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it's a chance to be part of something greater.

You’ll join a team where you're valued for who you are, encouraged to act with purpose and supported to thrive in your own way.

We offer 20+ Sodexo benefits, including a Sodexo retirement plan, discounts across more than 1,900 brands, gym discounts and a confidential 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme providing independent emotional, legal and financial support.

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone to build a better life for all. We're committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is welcome and has the opportunity to be their best.

We are a Disability Confident Leader and operate a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Ready to make a difference?

If you're an experienced catering leader looking for a role where your skills can make a genuine difference, we'd love to hear from you.