Chef Manager

Writhlington School; Kilmersdon; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Cycle-to-work scheme

Sick pay scheme

Free eye tests for VDU users

Employee assistance helpline

Job summary

Hayesfield Girls School is seeking a dedicated Chef Manager to oversee the Upper Oldfield Park kitchen, delivering nutritious and balanced meals for students and staff under the Trust.

The successful candidate will manage kitchen staff, ensure health and safety compliance (COSHH/HACCP), and contribute to menu planning and budget control.

Qualifications

• Experience at Head Chef level with school/education catering background.
• Relevant catering qualifications and up-to-date health & safety knowledge.
• Strong leadership and budget management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, cook and serve nutritious, balanced dishes for students and staff.
• Develop and deliver a catering strategy aligned with Food for Life principles.
• Manage kitchen staff with training and performance reviews.
• Ensure health and safety compliance (COSHH, HACCP) and budget control.
• Oversee menu planning, nutrition analysis and dietary accommodations.
• Control stock, orders, cashless systems and service readings.
• Engage with the school community and support safeguarding policies.

Skills

Head Chef level experience

Catering qualifications

COSHH HACCP knowledge

Nutrition knowledge

Budget management

Stock control

Leadership

Education

City & Guilds 706/1 & 2

NVQ Level 2 or 3

Job description

Role: Chef Manager

Location: Hayesfield School

Start Date: ASAP

Hours: 35 hours per week, 7:30am - 3:00pm

Salary: Grade 7 and scale point range 23 - 26, £18.44 - £19.96 per hour (full time equivalent £35,570 - £38,510) actual annual salary £28,908 - £31,298

Hayesfield Girls School is a prestigious school, dedicated to fostering an environment of excellence. Situated in a vibrant community, the school prides itself on its commitment to nurturing young minds and ensuring the wellbeing of its students. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced and passionate Chef Manager to oversee the Upper Oldfield Park kitchen, leading a team to provide nutritious and high-quality meals for our students and staff. With the support of a forward-thinking Trust, you will play a vital role in shaping the school’s catering provision, ensuring it meets the highest standards in food quality, health, safety and sustainability.

Role Overview:

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Chef Manager to join our team at Hayesfield School, overseeing the daily operations of the Upper Oldfield Park kitchen. The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering a nutritious and balanced menu, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations, managing kitchen staff and maintaining the highest standards of food quality. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of a catering service that supports the school’s ethos and meets the needs of the whole school community.

Key Responsibilities:

• Prepare, cook and serve an imaginative range of nutritionally balanced dishes.
• Assist in the development and delivery of a catering strategy aligned with the ‘Food for Life Partnership Scheme’.
• Manage kitchen staff, providing training, development and support to ensure high standards of service and efficiency.
• Oversee the day-to-day management of health and safety procedures, including COSHH and HACCP compliance.
• Contribute to menu planning, portion control and nutrition analysis, including special dietary needs.
• Maintain stock levels, ordering from nominated suppliers and ensure budget control.
• Manage the cashless catering system and ensure accurate readings at the end of each service.
• Participate in regular staff and department meetings, training courses and performance management reviews.
• Ensure the protection and safeguarding of students, following relevant policies and procedures.
• Participate in the wider school community, developing positive relationships with students, staff and parents.

Essential Qualifications and Experience:

• Minimum 2 years of experience working at Head Chef level.
• Relevant catering qualifications (e.g., City & Guilds 706/1 & 2 or NVQ Level 2 or 3).
• Up-to-date knowledge of health and safety regulations (COSHH, HACCP).
• Strong knowledge of nutrition and dietary requirements.
• Ability to carry out risk assessments and implement safe working practices.
• Efficient stock control and budget management.
• Excellent communication, organisational and leadership skills.
• Ability to manage and motivate a team, identifying strengths and weaknesses.
• Resilient and calm under pressure, with a commitment to high standards.

There are many advantages to working for us. Included in your actual annual salary is generous annual leave entitlement, access to a local government pension scheme, sick pay scheme, cycle-to-work scheme, free eye tests for VDU users and employee assistance helpline. Support staff in schools can also benefit from a range of national discount schemes available to education professionals such as the Blue Light Card offering savings on shopping, travel, and leisure.

We encourage early applications as we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the closing date if we receive sufficient applications for the role.