Cook Manager

Impact Food Group; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free meal on shift

Provided uniform

Training opportunities

Staff discount scheme

Job summary

Impact Food Group in Maidstone is seeking a Cook Manager to lead a school kitchen on a 35-hour, term-time schedule. You will manage daily operations, plan menus, and ensure high-quality, fresh meals for students.

The role emphasizes hands-on leadership, food safety, and strong collaboration with onsite clients, with weekday daytime hours and holiday periods aligned with school terms.

Qualifications

• Experience managing a kitchen, ideally in schools or high-volume catering.
• Ability to lead a catering team and maintain high standards.
• Strong knowledge of food hygiene and safety regulations.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day running of the kitchen.
• Lead, motivate, and develop the catering team.
• Prepare and serve fresh, seasonal meals for pupils.
• Plan menus, manage stock, and ensure hygiene compliance.
• Liaise with onsite clients and stakeholders.

Skills

Kitchen management

Team leadership

Menu planning

Food safety

High-volume catering

Job description

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.

Our brands include Innovate, 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: Maidstone - New School Opening - ME14 area

Working Days: Monday to Friday

Shifts & Working hours: 7:30am-3pm (35 hours per week)

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

Pay Details: £23,500 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
• 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.

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.

Next steps

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 required to undergo an enhanced DBS disclosure and children’s barred list check, which IFG will pay for.

We are a committed equal opportunities employer - if you require any assistance for the interview process, please detail within your application. All information is kept confidential and in compliance with GDPR requirements.