Early Years Field Chef

Bright Horizons UK; South Oxfordshire; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Join Bright Horizons UK as a Field Early Years Chef, where you will be responsible for preparing nutritious meals for children in various nurseries across Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. This full-time role requires culinary expertise and a strong focus on dietary needs, alongside a passion for healthy eating. With great benefits including childcare discounts and professional development opportunities, you will work in a supportive environment driven by teamwork and inclusion. If you want to make a difference in early years childcare, apply now!

Benefits

Childcare discount of 50% for first child

Enhanced parental leave

20 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Pension

24/7 virtual GP appointments

Access to a careers coach

Qualifications

• Previous experience within a commercial catering role.
• Passion for nutrition and inspiring others in healthy eating.
• Ability to demonstrate sound knowledge of managing dietary requirements, particularly food allergies.
• Great communication skills with colleagues, children, and parents.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Ability and willingness to work across multiple sites with access to own transport.

Responsibilities

• Travel to nurseries within a region to provide cover when permanent chefs are unavailable.
• Prepare, cook, and present age-appropriate food for children.
• Cater to all dietary requirements and communicate clearly with teams.
• Maintain a clean and safe work environment.
• Support nursery management with food ordering and keep accurate kitchen records.

Skills

Catering experience

Nutrition knowledge

Communication skills

Food Safety knowledge

Ability to manage dietary requirements

Education

Food Safety CIEH L2 or above

Job description

Role - Field Early Years Chef

Salary – Starting from £29,140.80 per annum (dependent on qualification/s and experience)

Location – Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Bristol

Are you looking to work for an organisation whose culture is driven by our HEART principles – Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork? Where you can be yourself, feel supported, and help to make a difference to the next generation? Somewhere you can say: “I did that.”

We are looking for a full time Field Early Years Chef, to join our Bright Horizons Central and London Division. This role will involve travelling around nurseries within the given region. The nurseries are predominately based in and around Oxfordshire and Warwickshire but there is an expectation to travel as North as Rugby, East as Haddenham and West as Bristol as required.

Our Benefits

• Childcare discount of 50% for first child*
• Enhanced parental leave
• 20 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and paid Christmas closure. Ability to also purchase additional leave*
• Pension
• Financial and wellbeing benefits including 24/7 virtual GP appointments, early access to wages, and more
• Professional development programme access for every stage of your career, including access to a careers coach

*Subject to T&Cs

The Role

As an Early Years Field Chef, you will travel to nurseries within a region where cover is needed, when the permanent Chef is on annual leave, or at times of sickness or absence.

You will prepare, cook, and present age-appropriate food for all the children in the nursery, with minimum wastage. You will ensure all dietary requirements are catered for and clearly communicated to teams and will work in partnership with the nursery teams to support the nursery care and education provision. You will also keep accurate kitchen records, maintain a clean and safe work environment, and support nursery management with food ordering.

What we’re looking for

• Previous experience within a commercial catering role
• Passion for nutrition, and inspiring others in healthy eating
• Ability to demonstrate a sound knowledge of managing different dietary requirements, particularly food allergies
• Food Safety CIEH L2 or above (or equivalent) – this must be passed on day 1 in post
• Sound knowledge of COSHH
• Great communication skills, with colleagues, children, and parents
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability and willingness to work across multiple sites, with access to own transport, and clean driving license

We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all ages and backgrounds to apply. We will consider reasonable adjustments required by applicants. Please note, due to our sector all roles are subject to an Enhanced DBS.

If you want to make a difference, with a company who has been voted Great Place to Work every year since 2006, apply today!

We look forward to receiving your application!

If you experience any problems, please [e-mail] we will be happy to help.