Chef Manager (school)

BD Trading Partnership; Greater London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A catering services provider in Barking/Dagenham is seeking an experienced Chef Manager to lead a team in delivering high-quality meals within a school environment. The role requires excellent leadership skills, a solid background in food preparation, and the ability to comply with dietary regulations. You will be responsible for overseeing kitchen operations, planning menus, and ensuring the safety and quality of food services. This position operates term time only, Monday to Friday, allowing for a balanced work-life environment.

Benefits

Heart Hub rewards, perks & benefits platform

Group Life Assurance

Competitive Salaries

Pension Scheme

Paid Holidays from 21 days

Family Friendly Policies

Health & wellbeing support

Career development and training

A GREAT TEAM!

Qualifications

• Proven track record of working as a chef manager or cook supervisor.
• Expertise in food preparation, presentation, and quality control.
• Experience in conducting regular kitchen inspections for cleanliness.

Responsibilities

• Lead a small team in preparing high-quality meals.
• Supervise food service duties and manage kitchen operations.
• Ensure compliance with dietary requirements and monitor stock levels.

Skills

Food preparation

Leadership skills

Communication

Multitasking

Creativity in menu planning

Education

City & Guilds or NVQ in Hospitality & Catering

Food Hygiene Level 3

Job description

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.

We are looking for a Chef Manager to join our amazing catering division to lead a small team in a school in Barking/Dagenham to deliver a well-run, large-scale catering operation producing and serving meals.

As a Chef Manager, you will be responsible for day-to-day leadership of the team and undertaking a range of duties including food ordering, preparation, service, food storage, administration and associated routine operational duties to ensure the smooth delivery of hot and cold meals and snacks to students and staff daily.

Duties

You will prepare and deliver high-quality food services in the school environment; this includes the planning, preparation, presentation and service of food according to approved menus, recipes and methods for a variety of meal occasions (which may include breakfasts, sandwiches/baguettes, items for vending/dispensing machines, desserts and snacks) in addition to main lunch service. Main duties include:

• Prepare and serve a variety of high quality meals daily, use your creative skills to plan and provide menus that meet nutritional guidelines.
• Coordinating kitchen operations and manage workflow to meet service standards and time frames.
• Supervise food serve duties, ensuring that food is properly portioned and accounted for.
• Ensure compliance with dietary and allergy requirements and ensure staff are able to provide information relating to menu items and ingredients, and advise all service users on allergens.
• Monitor stock levels, place orders, and manage inventory to ensure the kitchen is adequately supplied.
• Ensure safe and proper handling and storage of stock, and regularly conduct controls and checks (e.g., temperature checks, take food samples),
• Accurately complete all required operational and kitchen administration (such as completion of staff timesheets, absence information, risk assessments, maintain accurate records of food safety and hygiene practices, counting and banking of cash).

• Handle any emergencies and unexpected issues that may arise in the kitchen by staying calm under pressure, making quick decisions, and implementing contingency plans to maintain smooth operations.

• Promote and implement activities that aim to enhance the popularity of the service to students, parents and the wider school community.
• Supervise and train staff

Qualifications & Experience

• A qualification (such as City & Guilds or NVQ) in Hospitality & Catering /Food Safety/Food Preparation & Service, highly desirable.
• Minimum of Food Hygiene Level 3.
• Proven track record of working as a chef manager or cook supervisor level.
• Expertise in food preparation, presentation, and quality control.
• Experience in conducting regular kitchen inspections to ensure cleanliness and organisation.
• Excellent organisational and multitasking skills.
• A team player with good leadership skills, strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• A genuine passion for cooking and the culinary arts, with a strong desire to create exceptional dishes.

Working Arrangements

• Working pattern: TERM TIME ONLY - Monday to Friday (core hours covering 7 am - 2 pm), 35 hours per week.
• Location: Barking/Dagenham area
• Enhanced DBS required for this role.

About Us

We are facilities services company, providing a range of services for public and private sector clients currently across London and the Southeast, but with aspirations to broaden our geographies over time. Our mission is to help communities live, work and grow to fulfil their potential through the delivery of safe, high-quality services based on our unique understanding of local needs.

Benefits

In addition to an attractive salary, our benefits package includes:

• Heart Hub rewards, perks & benefits platform!
• Group Life Assurance
• Competitive Salaries
• Pension Scheme
• Paid Holidays from 21 days
• Family Friendly Policies making work-life balance achievable
• Health & wellbeing support including an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Career development and training
• A GREAT TEAM!

To Apply

If your skills and experience match and are keen to be considered for this opportunity to join a great team, please click 'apply' below to submit your CV and outline relevant skills and experience via the application form. Please note: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so if you are keen to be considered for this role, please apply as soon as possible as we will review applications on a rolling basis.