Cook Manager

Sodexo Group; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 17,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mental health support

Employee assistance programme

Wellbeing app access

Discount scheme (Sodexo)

Salary finance and planning

Retirement plan

Death in Service

Learning and development tools

Cycle to work

Volunteering opportunities

Flexible work environment

Protective uniform provided

Job summary

Sodexo is hiring a Chef Manager at Badbury Park Primary School in Swindon. You will oversee all food and beverage operations and the finances of the school kitchen, ensuring top-tier food quality and service.

Your leadership will shape the team’s daily work and foster a positive, productive environment. You will manage replenishment, menu development, audits, and cost control while training staff to maintain high standards.

Qualifications

• Experience cooking for large cohorts (100–1300 students)
• Previous staff supervision or line management experience
• Knowledge of health and safety procedures and compliance
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Professional leadership with a positive attitude

Responsibilities

• Manage replenishment of food and end-of-service shutdowns
• Develop, mentor and train kitchen team
• Control catering operation including labour, food and stock costs
• Manage and optimise all costs under control
• Ensure consistency in food and service standards for staff, visitors and students
• Create and develop menus
• Conduct routine audits to ensure standards are followed

Skills

Large-scale cooking

Staff supervision

Health & Safety awareness

Under pressure

Leadership by example

Education

NVQ Level 2

Level 2 Food safety

Job description

Job introduction

As Chef Manager for Sodexo at Badbury Park Primary School Rainscombe Road Coate Swindon Wiltshire, SN3 6ER, you will oversee all aspects of the food and beverage operations as well as the finances for your school’s kitchen. You will be responsible for ensuring that the food and level of service are of the highest calibre and that the school catering is among the best in the region. Your attitude will influence your team's daily lives as the person they go to for direction and support, which will in turn foster a vibrant and productive work environment. As well as this, you will not work unsociable hours and you will get public holidays off… including Christmas!

Join Sodexo and be part of something greater. You belong in a team where you can act with purpose and thrive in your own way.

What you do:

• Manage the replenishment of food and the dismantling of work areas at the end of service.
• Develop, mentor, conduct training, and inspire the kitchen team.
• Control the complete catering operation, including labour, food, and stock expenses.
• Manage and optimise all costs that are under your control.
• Ensure uniformity in the food and service standards provided to fellow staff members, visitors and students.
• Manage the creation and development of menus.
• Conduct routine audits to ensure standards are being followed.

What you bring:

• Must have expertise on cooking on a large scale, anywhere between 100 – 1300 students.
• Have experience following recipes, possibly in a similar setting.
• Have previous staff supervision experience or line management experience.
• Have experience working with fresh produce and ingredients.
• Be aware of the importance of adhering to health and safety procedures.
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines in a busy Kitchen environment.
• Be professional, leading by example and having a positive outlook is key.
• Hold basic food handling skills certification:
  • NVQ Level 2
  • Level 2 Food safety Certificate
  • A minimum of 1 years of experience in hands on cooking, training on Food Hygiene, and Health & Safety will be given.

What we offer:

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it’s a chance tobe part of something greater. You’ll belong in a company and team that values you foryou;you’ll act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions; and you’ll be able to thrive in your own way. In addition, we also offer a range of resources, rewards and benefits for our colleagues and their families:

• Unlimited access to an online platform offering mental health and wellbeing support.
• Employee Assistance Programme to help with everyday issues or larger problems where you may need additional support, including legal and financial advice, support with work related issues or personal issues such as bereavement.
• Access to a free health and wellbeing app that provides rewards for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and includes access to a 24hr virtual GP and various other services.
• The Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering great deals 24/7 (also open to friends and family) and/or the prepayment cashback card.
• Money Insights and financial benefits via the Salary Finance Platform.
• Save for your future by becoming a member of the Sodexo Retirement Plan
• A death in Service benefit for colleagues who pass away whilst employed by Sodexo
• Opportunities to enable colleagues to grow and succeed throughout their career at Sodexo, including a variety of learning and development tools.
• Cycle to Work Scheme to help colleagues to do their bit for the environment whilst keeping fit.
• Volunteering Opportunities to enable all colleagues to help support worthwhile causes in our communities.
• Flexible and dynamic work environment
• Competitive compensation
• Full training and full protective uniform supplied.

Sodexo and our Clients are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Certain roles will require applicants to undergo screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (UK) and / or Disclosure Scotland (Scotland)

Sodexo reserves the right to close this advert early if we are in receipt of a high number of application

Why Sodexo?

“For a job that’s a perfect mix of passion, perks and potential”

• £15 per hour
• 35 hours per week
• Working pattern: Monday - Friday, 8am - 3pm
• Term Time only (39 week Working Contract paid over 52 weeks)

Equated pay (sometimes known as spread-over pay) is a method of paying you for your contracted hours, working weeks and holiday pay spread over 12 months instead of just receiving pay during the months that you work and none during the school closures/non-working weeks. This means that you get paid equal amounts of pay every month. Further information will be supplied at interview stage.