Chef Manager

Impact Food Group; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Daytime hours

No evenings/weekends

School holidays off

Free meals on shift

Uniform provided

Training & development

Free qualifications

Staff discount scheme

Monthly incentives

Job summary

Impact Food Group (IFG) is recruiting a Chef Manager for St Bedes Inter Church School in Cambridge. The role is Monday to Friday, 7am–3:30pm, 42 weeks per year, with a salary of £30,000 per annum.

You’ll lead a catering team, plan menus, manage stock and budgets, and ensure food hygiene and safety while building strong relationships with onsite clients. IFG offers ongoing training, free meals on shift, and a supportive work environment.

Qualifications

• Experience managing a kitchen, ideally in schools or high-volume catering.
• Proven ability to cook fresh, seasonal meals at high volume.
• Strong people management and team leadership.
• Experience managing stock, budgets, and compliance.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Hands-on approach with high standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate, and develop the catering team.
• Prepare and serve fresh meals at scale.
• Plan menus, manage stock, and control budgets.
• Ensure food hygiene, safety, and compliance.
• Build relationships with onsite clients and stakeholders.
• Oversee service from prep to finish.

Skills

Kitchen management

High-volume cooking

People leadership

Kitchen operations

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Job description

Impact Food Group (IFG) is one of England’s fastest-growing school food providers, serving around one million students every day across more than 1,500 schools. We are dedicated to delivering high-quality, nutritious meals that support student wellbeing and enjoyment.

Our brands include Innovate, Cucina, Chapter One (Independent Schools), Hutchison, and Dolce, reflecting our breadth of experience and reach across the school catering sector.

The role

Job Title: Chef Manager

School Location: St Bedes Inter Church School, Cambridge, CB1

Working Days: Monday to Friday

Shifts & Working hours: 7am-3.30pm (45 hours per week)

Working Weeks: 42 weeks per year (term time, inset days and 3 additional weeks)

Pay Details: £30,000 Annum

Responsibilities

• Leading, motivating, and developing your catering team
• Preparing and serving fresh, seasonal meals at high volume
• Planning menus, managing stock, and controlling budgets
• Ensuring all food hygiene, safety, and compliance standards are met
• Building strong relationships with onsite clients and stakeholders
• Overseeing the smooth running of service, from prep to finish

We’re not in the business of making school food—we’re here to make great food, and that’s why our customers love us.

What are we looking for?

• Previous experience managing a kitchen, ideally in schools or high-volume catering environments
• Proven ability to cook fresh, seasonal food at high volumes
• Strong people management and team leadership skills
• Experience managing kitchen operations, stock, and compliance
• Excellent organisational and communication skills
• A proactive, hands‑on approach and pride in maintaining high standards

What’s in it for you?

We offer a fantastic work-life balance:

• Daytime hours, no evenings or weekends
• All school holidays off
• Free meals on shift and uniform provided

Plus, you’ll benefit from:

• Ongoing training, development, and career progression opportunities
• Access to free qualifications
• Staff discount scheme across 850+ retailers
• Monthly team incentives with the chance to win shopping vouchers

Next steps

If you think you’ve got what it takes, we’d love to hear from you!

Interview, trade test and kitchen visit will be required as part of the recruitment process.

IFG are committed to the safeguarding of children, and our employees share this commitment. Successful candidates are required to undergo an enhanced DBS disclosure and children’s barred list check, which IFG will pay for.

We are a committed equal opportunities employer – if you require any assistance for the interview process, please detail within your application. All information is kept confidential and in compliance with GDPR requirements.