Cook Manager

Impact Food Group; Dartford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free meal on shift

Provided uniform

Training and career progression

Free qualifications

Staff discount scheme

Monthly incentives

Job summary

Impact Food Group is seeking a Cook Manager to lead a kitchen team in delivering fresh, seasonal school meals. This hands-on role covers managing daily kitchen operations, team leadership, and ensuring high standards of food hygiene and service.

Ideal candidates will have experience in school or high-volume catering, strong people management skills, and a passion for quality food. The role offers daytime hours with excellent work-life balance, including holidays, meals, and uniform provision.

Qualifications

• 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.
• Good understanding of food hygiene and safety regulations.

Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day running of the kitchen.
• Lead, motivate, and develop the catering team.
• Prepare and serve fresh, seasonal meals for the school.
• Plan menus, manage stock, and ensure food hygiene and safety standards.
• Liaise directly with onsite clients and stakeholders.
• Ensure service runs smoothly and efficiently.

Skills

Team leadership

People management

Catering/kitchen management

Communication

Organisational skills

Food hygiene knowledge

Job description

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 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
• Good understanding 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.

Impact Food Group (IFG) is one of England's fastest-growing school food providers, serving around one million students every day across more than 1,500 schools. We are dedicated to delivering high-quality, nutritious meals that support student wellbeing and enjoyment.

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.