Cook in Charge

Cornwall Council; Penzance; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A local educational institution in Penzance is seeking a Cook in Charge to manage the catering services and improve the lunchtime experience for children and staff. The ideal candidate will have experience in catering, excellent organizational skills, and the ability to create a nurturing dining environment. Responsibilities include managing the kitchen budget, planning menus, and ensuring compliance with food hygiene regulations. This role offers opportunities for professional development in a supportive setting.

Benefits

Supportive school environment

Opportunities for professional development

Focus on staff well-being

Qualifications

• Experience in catering and food preparation.
• Strong leadership skills to manage a kitchen team.
• Understanding of nutritional and dietary requirements.

Responsibilities

• Manage the catering provision and kitchen budget.
• Plan menus considering nutritional standards.
• Ensure food hygiene and safety compliance.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Good organization

Ability to work under pressure

Education

Relevant food safety qualifications

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity to join our friendly and caring school in the heart of the community of Heamoor. This post is an opportunity for the successful candidate to join the school at an exciting time and to develop the catering services and lunchtime experience for the children and staff. You will manage our catering provision, be responsible for the kitchen budget, develop menus and manage all food preparation. The school is proud to be working in partnership with Educatering, our sole catering supplier. Through this collaboration, the Cook in Charge benefits not only from high‑quality ingredients, but also from expert support in menu planning, nutritional standards, and food safety compliance. Educatering provides a range of resources and operational guidance, helping to ensure consistently high‑quality, child‑friendly meals. This enables the cook to focus on leading the kitchen team and creating a positive, welcoming dining experience for all pupils.

What we can offer:

• A supportive school; one where children are put firmly at the heart of everything we do.
• A chance to thrive in an ambitious school, working in partnership with a Headteacher who is passionate and determined to continue the school's journey to excellence.
• Motivated and happy children who are keen to learn and are enthusiastic about school.
• A warm, friendly, caring working environment with dynamic, interested and enthused staff.
• Ongoing development opportunities to challenge and support you professionally
• Genuine value and support of staff well‑being.
• Heamoor Primary School is keen to appoint a dynamic, suitably experienced and highly motivated professional to manage the provision of meals in our school.
• Someone who has vision to develop the mealtime experience for our children, engage with them at a different level and enthuse them about the importance of healthy diet and mealtime etiquette.
• Someone who has excellent interpersonal skills with pupils and staff;
• An individual who has high standards and expectations of both themselves and others;
• Someone who is well organised, able to prioritise and willing to work hard as part of our school team;
• An individual who is supportive of and sympathetic to the ethos of the school;
• A person who will be responsible for the preparation and serving of food to children and staff in accordance with current food hygiene regulations;
• Someone who is able to plan menus giving due consideration to nutritional and dietary requirements;
• An individual who maintains a high standard of hygiene and cleaning within the kitchen, food preparation and storage areas;
• Someone who is aware of the Health and Safety implications of the role and able to adhere to any requirements of the School Health and Safety Policy;
• A person who is willing to take part in and/or provide relevant training;
• Someone who is willing to be involved in supporting the food education elements of the curriculum across the school;
• Someone who is able to work on their own initiative.
• We are committed to safeguarding children and the successful applicant will be required to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and will be assessed against the Childcare Disqualification Regulations.