Chef Supervisor (Ark Alexandra Academy)

East Sussex County Council; Hastings; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Ark Rewards

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Ark Alexandra Academy in Hastings is hiring a Chef Supervisor to lead the catering team and ensure meals meet school standards. The role is based at one of our campuses and operates during term-time, with hours 38.5 per week across 41 weeks per year.

Salary is £24,741.32 per annum pro rata, with pay spread evenly across the year. You will supervise kitchen staff, maintain cleanliness, and deliver a high standard of catering services for staff and students.

Qualifications

• Experience of working in a busy kitchen.
• Resilient character with personal drive.
• Ability to take ownership of tasks and complete to a high standard.
• Health & safety or food hygiene qualification (not essential).
• Team player capable of collaboration and using own initiative.
• Flexible to cover other team members, possibly on other campus.
• Calm and professional under pressure with a solution-oriented mindset.
• Flexibility in work attitude and duties.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, cook and present food meeting school standards under guidance from Operations Manager.
• Supervise the catering team and maintain high standards of food prep and kitchen cleanliness across areas.
• Ensure high standard of catering service is provided to staff and students.
• Work quickly, safely and collaboratively within a busy kitchen environment.

Skills

Kitchen experience

Resilient

Ownership

Health & Safety

Team player

Flexibility

Calm under pressure

Initiative

Education

Food hygiene qualification

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Salary: £24,741.32 per annum, pro rata

Contract type: Permanent

Working pattern: 38.5 hours per week, 41 weeks per year: 07:00am - 15:45pm Mon to Fri (this includes a 1 hour or 2 x 30-minute unpaid breaks each day)

Closing date: 11:55pm, 27 September 2026

Interview date: 05 October 2026

Who to contact if you have a query: If you would like to discuss this opportunity or for any queries, please contact [e-mail]

This is a rare opportunity to join our hard-working, dedicated catering team in our growing academy. As Chef Supervisor you will be based at one of our two campuses under the direction of our Operations Manager. This is a term time only position, which means you will only work 39 weeks of the year, plus two extra weeks in the school holidays as directed by your manager. Pay is spread evenly over the year so you would never have a month without money.

As the Chef Supervisor you will prepare, cook, and present food which meets the school standards and according to the Operations Manager. You will also be responsible for supervising the catering team and ensure high levels of food preparation and kitchen cleanliness is maintained across all kitchen and dining areas as well as ensuring a high standard of catering service is provided.

Our standards are high and meals are prepared daily from fresh ingredients. We need someone who can work quickly and safely, be part of a team and has the confidence to interact with staff and students.

For more information, please read the job description and person specification in the information pack available for download.

As the ideal candidate you will:

• Have experience of working in a busy kitchen
• Have a resilient character and a strong personal drive
• Be able to take ownership of tasks and complete to a high standard
• Have a health & safety and/or food hygiene qualification but it's not essential
• Be a team player that can work collaboratively as well as using your own initiative
• Be flexible in covering other team members when required, even if it's on the other campus
• Be calm and professional under pressure with the ability to adapt to challenges and opportunities with a solution-oriented perspective
• Have a flexible attitude towards work

Our School:

We are committed to creating one of the top performing schools in the UK, right here in Hastings.

Ark Alexandra Academy is a popular secondary operating a 'One School, Two Campus' model since September 2024, offering unique opportunities for professional growth and development for our staff, and a more bespoke and supportive learning environment for our students.

The school is on a rapid journey of improvement, driven by a traditional, evidence-based approach and a culture of high expectations, which was reflected in a significant uplift in GCSE results for 2026.

We uphold traditional values of discipline, courtesy and respect, and are a strict no mobile phone school, ensuring a calm and purposeful learning environment where students are ready to learn.

As part of the Ark network, Ark Alexandra Academy has access to the dedicated support of a highly successful MAT with a well-regarded CPD offer for leaders and teachers at all levels and a developing programme for support staff. In addition, the school is part of the Hastings DfE Education Investment Area giving an increased focus on the region, potential funding, and genuine opportunities for collaboration between schools.

Join us on this exciting journey to transform education in Hastings.

What we offer:

• A friendly but professional working environment
• Opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across the network
• Local Government Pension Scheme with a generous employer contribution
• Unique opportunities for growth and development
• Access to Ark Rewards - a scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme - providing free, confidential counselling, legal advice and a range of different support.

If you’re interested in further information about our school, please visit our website – www.arkalexandra.org

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark's diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on the link on the application website.

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark's safer recruitment process, please visit www.arkalexandra.org/vacancies, click the job you are interested in and click the link at the bottom of the advert.

Additional Information

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is part-time or term-time only.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Salary: £24,741.32 per annum, pro rata

Contract type: Permanent

Working pattern: 38.5 hours per week, 41 weeks per year: 07:00am - 15:45pm Mon to Fri (this includes a 1 hour or 2 x 30-minute unpaid breaks each day)

Closing date: 11:55pm, 27 September 2026

Interview date: 05 October 2026