Cook

Impact Food Group; Esher; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free meal

Uniform provided

Training & progression

Staff discounts

Job summary

Impact Food Group in the United Kingdom is seeking a Cook Manager to lead a school kitchen, ensuring fresh, seasonal meals for pupils each day. You will supervise a small team, oversee service, and maintain high standards of food hygiene and safety.

Working hours are 7.30am-3pm, Monday to Friday, 39 weeks per year, with daytime shifts. Salary is £26,000 per annum, plus opportunities for training, progression, and staff benefits.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a school kitchen or high-volume catering environment.
• Ability to plan menus and manage stock.
• Strong people management and communication skills.
• Good organisational skills and compliance with food hygiene standards.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day kitchen operations.
• Lead, motivate and develop catering staff.
• Prepare and serve fresh, seasonal meals for students.
• Plan menus, control stock, and ensure hygiene compliance.
• Liaise with onsite clients and stakeholders.

Skills

Kitchen management

Leadership

Food hygiene

Menu planning

Team leadership

Job description

Impact Food Group (IFG)is one of England’s fastest-growing school food providers,serving aroundone million students every dayacross more than1,500 schools.We are dedicated to delivering high-quality, nutritious meals that support student wellbeing and enjoyment.

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

The role…

Job Title: Cook Manager

School Location: New Primary School in the area

Working Days: Monday to Friday

Shifts & Working hours: 7.30am-3pm (35hours per week)

Working Weeks: 39weeks per year (term time plus inset days)

Pay Details: £26,000 per Annum

What will I be doing?

As a Cook Manager, you’ll lead a friendly kitchen team to deliver fresh, seasonal meals to students each day. This is a hands‑on management role, where you’ll oversee the kitchen, support your team, and ensure smooth service.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing the day-to-day running of the kitchen
• Leading, motivating, and developing your catering team
• Preparing and serving fresh, seasonal meals for the school
• Planning menus, managing stock, and ensuring compliance with food hygiene and safety standards
• Liaising directly with onsite clients and stakeholders
• Ensuring service runs smoothly and efficiently

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?

We’re looking for an experienced Cook/Chef Manager with strong leadership skills and a passion for food.

• Previous experience managing a kitchen, ideally in schools or high-volume catering environments
• Skilled in preparing fresh, seasonal food
• Strong people management and team leadership skills
• Good organisational and communication skills
• A proactive, hands‑on approach with pride in maintaining high standards
• Goodunderstanding of food hygiene and safety regulations

If you’re enthusiastic about cooking and leading a team to deliver quality food, we want to hear from you.

What’s in it for you?

This role offers an excellent work-life balance:

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

Plus:

• Opportunities for training, development, and career progression
• Access to free qualifications
• Staff discount scheme across 850+ retailers
• Monthly team incentives, including chances to win shopping vouchers

You’ll also have the chance to help children explore healthy eating and build positive food habits that last a lifetime.

Please note: An interview, trade test &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 requiredtoundergo an enhancedDBS disclosure and children’s barred list check, which IFG will pay for.

We area committed equal opportunities employer - if you require any assistance for the interview process, please detail withinyourapplication. Allinformation is kept confidential and in compliance with GDPR requirements.