Chef Manager

Bedford ESOL; Biggleswade; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 38,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

People's pension

Discounts on retail and leisure

Professional development opportunities

Access to college courses

Job summary

Bedford College Group is seeking a Chef Manager to lead our Leisure, Catering & Events Services. You will manage the kitchen, plan menus, and supervise staff to deliver high-quality food and service for students and events.

The role requires strong cost control, stock management and a commitment to food safety and continuous professional development within a term-time, permanent framework.

Qualifications

• Hold a Level 2 Kitchen/Larder qualification and Level 2 Food Hygiene qualification, with supervisory experience.
• Strong practical cooking, presentation and menu development skills.
• Experience in cost control, stock management and budgeting.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day kitchen operation, plan production schedules, staff rotas and hospitality requirements while maintaining high standards of food quality.
• Develop menus in line with trends and budget targets; manage kitchen ordering, stocktakes and food costs through purchasing, storage and portion control.
• Maintain HACCP, hygiene and safety procedures; ensure staff training and accurate compliance records.

Skills

Kitchen Leadership

Menu Planning

Food Hygiene

Staff Supervision

Budgeting

Education

Level 2 Kitchen/Larder qualification

Level 2 Food Hygiene qualification

Job description

Role: Chef Manager

Location: Shuttleworth College - Old Warden Campus

Salary/Benefits: Salary is between £34,420 and £37,900 per annum (Pro-Rata) DOE and Qualifications, People's pension, Retail and Leisure Discounts, excellent professional and personal development opportunities, accessing college courses.

Hours/Weeks: 40 hours per week - 40 weeks per year

Contract Type: Permanent - Term Time

This is a UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we're unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.

About the role:

We are currently seeking a Chef Manager to join our Leisure, Catering & Events Services department at The Bedford College Group.

As a Chef Manager, you play an important role in the success of our students through:

• Kitchen Leadership & Food Production - Oversee the day-to-day kitchen operation, supporting the planning of production schedules, staff rotas and hospitality requirements while ensuring food is prepared, cooked and presented to consistently high standards.
• Menu Planning, Stock & Cost Control - Develop menus in line with current food trends and budget targets, manage kitchen ordering and stocktakes, and control food costs through effective purchasing, storage, portion control and waste management.
• Food Safety, Hygiene & Compliance - Maintain exemplary standards of cleanliness and food hygiene, ensure HACCP and health and safety procedures are followed, maintain accurate compliance records, and ensure the kitchen team is appropriately trained.
• Team Management & Development - Lead, motivate and support the kitchen team, act as a role model and mentor to junior staff, provide coaching and training, and promote teamwork, mutual respect and consistently high professional standards.
• Customer Experience & Professional Standards - Deliver an exceptional customer experience, resolve complaints effectively, support restaurant service and special events, and uphold safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion, health and safety, and continuous professional development.

About you:

• Qualifications & Culinary Expertise - Holds a Level 2 Kitchen/Larder qualification or equivalent vocational experience, with supervisory experience, a Level 2 Food Hygiene qualification, and strong practical cooking, presentation and menu development skills.
• Kitchen Leadership & Team Development - Proven ability to lead by example, line manage and motivate teams, train and develop staff, manage performance effectively, and create a positive, welcoming and supportive working environment.
• Commercial, Financial & Operational Skills - Experienced in food costing, budgeting, cash handling, stock and quality control, with the ability to plan and deliver catering operations effectively within agreed timescales and budgets.
• Organisation, Creativity & Customer Service - Highly organised, creative and detail-focused, with strong IT and communication skills, excellent customer service standards, and the ability to work effectively under pressure while responding to hospitality trends and opportunities.
• Professionalism, Safeguarding & Flexibility - Proactive, reliable and enthusiastic, with a commitment to safeguarding, equality and diversity, health and safety, continuous professional development, and flexible working across College locations as required.

For a more detailed breakdown of the job role and the requirements, please see the Job Description attached to this vacancy.

Interviews to be held: 19 October 2026

Successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate alignment to our organisational VISION values:

• Valuing Teamwork - We are one team who by working together can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
• Improving Continuously - We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
• Student Centred - At our heart is always doing what is best for our students. We consider students in all of our decision making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
• Inclusive - We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
• Open and Caring - We care about the wellbeing of our staff, our students, our community and wider society, creating an environment built on trust where we listen, engage with and support each other.
• Nurturing Education Excellence - We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.

About The Bedford College Group

The Bedford College Group was formed in 2017 following the merger of Bedford College and Tresham College and is now the largest provider of education in the South East Midlands, with over 15,000 students passing through our doors each year.

Today, the Group is made up of a family of colleges across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire:Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College andTreshamCollegein the towns of Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough;ShuttleworthCollege,a specialist land-based college; The Bedford Sixth Form, (the only dedicated sixth form in Bedford); The Corby Sixth Form, (opened in September 2023); and the National College for MotoriportalongsideSilverstonerace circuit.To widen accessibility to education and training, the Group also has community-based Learning Centres in Bedford, Corby and Wellingborough which offer IT training.

Safeguarding our Students

The Bedford College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to thorough vetting process which includes, an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide. The Bedford College Group's policy on Employment of Ex-Offenders is attached to this vacancy.

Candidates who are barred from working with children are reminded it is a criminal offence to apply for this post.