Cook Manager

Impact Food Group; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free meals on shift

Uniform provided

Staff discount scheme

Job summary

Impact Food Group is hiring a Cook Manager - Primary for a New School Opening in the ME15 area. You will lead a kitchen team to deliver fresh, seasonal meals for students, with hands-on management to ensure smooth service from 7:30am to 3pm, five days a week during term-time.

The role offers daytime hours, holidays off, and uniforms with a focus on high standards, safety, and partnership with onsite stakeholders.

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

• 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

Skills

Kitchen management

Team leadership

Food preparation

Food hygiene

Communication

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 - Primary

School Location: New School Opening - ME15 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.

• 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

If this sounds like the right role for you, we’d love to hear from you!

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.