Chef

Southlee; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

South Lee Prep School and Nursery in Bury St Edmunds is seeking a dedicated School Chef to lead our kitchen team year-round. You will oversee all catering operations for pupils and staff, plan menus, and work with local suppliers to deliver fresh, healthy meals cooked from scratch.

The role requires vision, pride in quality, and the ability to engage with pupils through the school Food Committee, ensuring meals support wellbeing and learning.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a school or institutional kitchen.
• Ability to plan nutritious, kid-friendly menus.
• Strong leadership and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen team and manage daily catering operations.
• Plan exciting, healthy menus using local produce.
• Work with the Senior Leadership Team to support school vision.
• Ensure food safety and high-quality meals for pupils and staff.

Skills

Kitchen management

Menu planning

Team leadership

Job description

Location:South Lee Prep School, Nowton Road, Bury St Edmunds

Hours: Full Time, working 3 days a week 8.00 am - 3.00 pm (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday), and 2 days a week 9.00 am - 5.00 pm (Wednesday and Friday), Approximately 35 weeks per year

Can you enrich the lives of young people as a School Chef?

South Lee Prep School and Nursery are looking for an all-year-round School Chef to lead our kitchen team in providing delicious, nutritious food in an organised and professional environment.
You will oversee all aspects of catering in the school, including provision for our thriving year-round nursery, catering mainly for the pupils and staff each day at lunchtime but also for events such as match teas and special end of year dinners. We are looking for someone with vision, passion and commitment who can create exciting and healthy menus for family-style dining. You will work closely with the Senior Leadership Team to deliver the school’s vision and be a key part of our bustling South Lee Prep community.
Leading the kitchen at South Lee is about far more than simply preparing meals. Food is an extremely important part of school life for our children and families, and we take great pride in the quality of what we serve. We care about where our food comes from, using local suppliers wherever possible and making the most of fresh, seasonal produce. We do not compromise on quality by buying cheap, heavily processed foods, and we avoid unnecessary additives and preservatives. Our expectation is that food is cooked properly from scratch, on site, every day, with no reliance on jars, packet mixes or convenience sauces.
The School Chef would lead the kitchen with these principles at its heart, creating nourishing, varied and appealing meals while also working with our pupil food committee to share their knowledge and enthusiasm for food. We want someone who takes real pride in what they produce and understands that good food plays an important part in the happiness, wellbeing and experience of every child at South Lee Prep. Could you be part of this exciting journey?