Cook Manager

Sodexo; Town's End; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mon-Fri working

No evenings/weekends

Public holidays off

Term-time pay 52 weeks

Employee Assistance Programme

Virtual GP service

Mental health support

Employee discounts

Salary Finance

Retirement Plan

Learning & development

Career progression

Bike to Work

Uniform provided

Job summary

The Earls High School in Halesowen is seeking a Chef Manager or Catering Manager to lead a busy kitchen operation on a Monday–Friday schedule during term time. You’ll manage a team, deliver high‑quality meals for students, and shape menus while enjoying a strong work‑life balance.

This role offers 37.5 hours weekly, term‑time pay spread over 52 weeks, and Sodexo benefits. If you’re a hands‑on leader who thrives in education catering, we’d love to hear from you.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 2 or equivalent.
• Level 2 Food Safety Certificate.
• 1 year hands-on cooking experience.
• Experience in education catering desirable but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day catering operation and team.
• Hands-on with food preparation and cooking.
• Oversee food service and ensure high standards.
• Manage food ordering, stock, replenishment and waste.
• Control catering costs including labour and food.

Skills

Chef Manager

Catering Manager

Head Chef

Sous Chef

Team leadership

Food safety

Allergen management

Large-scale cooking

Fresh produce

Customer service

Education

NVQ Level 2

Level 2 Food Safety Certificate

Job description

The following content displays a map of the jobs location - Halesowen

Love hospitality, but ready for a better work-life balance? Come and make a difference at The Earls High School, where you’ll lead a kitchen team, serve great food to around 1,300 students and have the freedom to bring your own ideas and personality to the role. With Monday–Friday hours, no evenings or weekends, and school holidays off, this is a chance to enjoy a rewarding catering career without missing out on the important things outside of work. If you’re a hands‑on leader who takes pride in their food and their team, we’d love to meet you.

Job Introduction

Job Description

Chef Manager / Catering Manager / Cook Manager – Monday to Friday | Term Time Only

Location: The Earls High School, Furnace Lane, Halesowen, B63 3SL
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Working Pattern: Monday to Friday, 7:00am – 3:00pm
Contract: Term Time Only – 39 weeks, paid over 52 weeks
Salary: £15.00 per hour + Sodexo Benefits

Are you an experienced Chef Manager, Catering Manager or Cook Manager who enjoys leading a team and delivering great food and service?

We’re looking for a confident and passionate catering professional to take ownership of the catering operation at The Earls High School in Halesowen, serving a busy school community.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who wants a great work-life balance, with a Monday-to-Friday working pattern, no weekend working, no evening shifts and public holidays off, including Christmas.

What you'll be doing

As Chef Manager / Catering Manager / Cook Manager, you’ll take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the school catering operation, leading your team and ensuring students and staff receive a high-quality food service every day.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Leading, motivating and developing the catering team.
• Being hands‑on with food preparation and cooking.
• Overseeing food service and ensuring consistently high standards.
• Managing food ordering, stock, replenishment and waste.
• Managing food, labour and other catering costs.
• Developing and creating menus that are appealing to students and staff.
• Maintaining excellent food safety, hygiene and allergen standards.
• Carrying out regular audits and checks to ensure standards are maintained.
• Working closely with the school to deliver an outstanding catering service.
• Creating a positive and professional kitchen environment where your team can thrive.
• Leading by example and ensuring the kitchen operates efficiently during busy service periods.

What we're looking for

We're looking for someone who:

• Has previous experience as a Chef Manager, Catering Manager, Cook Manager, Head Chef, Sous Chef or similar.
• Has experience cooking on a large scale, ideally for 100–1,300 customers or more.
• Is confident leading, motivating and developing a kitchen team.
• Has experience working with fresh produce and ingredients.
• Has a passion for food and delivering excellent customer service.
• Has good knowledge of food safety, hygiene and allergen management.
• Is organised, proactive and confident managing a busy catering operation.
• Can work calmly under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Has a positive attitude and leads by example.
• Holds NVQ Level 2 or equivalent.
• Holds a Level 2 Food Safety Certificate.
• Has at least 1 year of hands‑on cooking experience.
• Experience within education catering would be desirable but isn't essential.

This role offers more than just a job. You'll have the opportunity to lead a team, develop your career and make a positive difference to students every day, while enjoying a fantastic work‑life balance.

You’ll also receive a range of Sodexo benefits, including:

• Monday to Friday working
• No evening or weekend shifts
• Public holidays off, including Christmas
• Term‑time working with pay spread over 52 weeks
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• 24/7 virtual GP service.
• Mental health and wellbeing support.
• Employee discounts for you, your friends and family.
• Salary Finance financial wellbeing support.
• Sodexo Retirement Plan.
• Learning and development opportunities.
• Career progression opportunities within Sodexo.
• Bike to Work Scheme.
• Full training and protective uniform provided.

Ready for your next step?

If you're an experienced Chef Manager, Catering Manager, Cook Manager, Head Chef or Sous Chef looking for a Monday-to-Friday, term-time-only management role in Halesowen, we'd love to hear from you.

Whether you're looking to move away from evenings and weekends or simply want a role where you can have a better work-life balance while continuing to lead a kitchen, this could be the opportunity for you.

Please note: Sodexo reserves the right to close this advert early if we receive a high number of applications.

This role is subject to appropriate safeguarding and safer recruitment checks, including references and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

About The Company

About Sodexo

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better every day for everyone to build a better life for all. As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100 million consumers each day through our unique combination of On-Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services.

We are committed tobeingan inclusive employer. We are a forces friendly employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds and identities. We encourage our employees to get involved with our Employee Networks such as Pride, Sodexo Parents & Carers, Sodexo Disability, Ability network, So Together, Generations and Origins.

We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer. We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations. We run a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.