Flexi Chef - Essex

N Family Club; Buckhurst Hill; On-site; GBP 21,958 - 28,419; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Flexible hours

Lunch and drinks daily

Referral bonuses

Wellbeing events

Welcome bonus

Job summary

N Family Club in Buckhurst Hill is seeking a Flexi Chef to cook breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for children while meeting diverse dietary needs. You will follow nutritionist-designed recipes and allergen guidelines to ensure every child receives safe, nutritious meals and to support a healthy growth environment.

This role offers flexible hours, opportunities to mentor apprentices, and a competitive hourly rate.

Qualifications

• Must have Food Safety and Hygiene Level 2 or above (Level 3 during induction if not held).
• Nursery or school commercial kitchen experience required.
• Experience catering for diverse dietary needs.
• Experience with very young children and food preparation guidelines.
• Experience with Environmental Health inspections.
• Knowledge of food allergens and child nutrition; budget awareness.

Responsibilities

• Cook fresh and inspiring meals for children, including weekends.
• Follow nutritionist-designed recipes and allergy guidelines to ensure safety and nutrition.
• Cater to dietary needs across age groups; prevent cross-contamination.
• Prepare daily lunch and snacks for nursery team; manage stock and orders.
• Maintain kitchen paperwork with daily Due Diligence Diary and Cleaning Schedule.

Education

Food Safety & Hygiene Level 2

Job description

Flexi Chef

Department: Nursery Flexi

Employment Type: Flexible

Location: Buckhurst Hill, Essex

Compensation: £15.94 - £20.63 / hour

Description

We’re more than just a nursery group. We’re the UK’s most innovative early-years education provider.

At N Family Club, we dreamed of reimagining early years education. Becoming a place that fosters creativity, embraces a curriculum-led approach, and prepares children for the modern world. We’re proudly making our dream a reality – and we want you to be a part of it!

As a Flexi Chef at N Family Club you’ll be cooking up a storm - preparing breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for children, as well as a lunch and a smoothie for our hard-working nursery team. We're looking for creative chefs who are passionate about introducing young children to new foods and can cater to a range of allergies and dietary needs.

You’ll also bring flexibility and energy to your work, helping the nursery cover varied shift patterns to provide the best nutrition to children of all age groups. Every day will bring something new, and your dedication will help us become the most loved early years education group in the UK.

Your key responsibilities:

• Cook fresh and inspiring food for our children, with occasional weekends;
• Follow our nutritionist-designed recipes and menu to ensure that each child receives the best possible level of vitamins and nutrients;
• Cater to the differing dietary needs of different age groups, following food preparation and choking guidelines;
• Know the allergies and dietary requirements of your children inside out, ensuring you adhere to all policies and procedures to ensure there is no risk of cross-contamination and that each individual child’s nutritional needs are met;
• Preparation of a daily lunch and smoothie for our nursery team, catering to different dietary needs;
• Overall responsibility for the timely completion of all kitchen paperwork and compliance related tasks, including a daily Due Diligence Diary and our kitchen Cleaning Schedule;
• Responsible for washing up, the ordering of food supplies from our accredited supplier, managing weekly ordering and efficient stock rotation;
• Maintenance and upkeep of the kitchen to a 5 star Food Hygiene rating standard, adhering to all Environment Health industry regulations and requirements;
• Build and maintain excellent relationships with our nursery parents;
• Participate in our nursery Apprentice Chef scheme by mentoring, coaching and guiding our next generation of nursery chefs as and when required;
• Responsible for always adhering to the company's H&S policy: "Statement of Intent"
• Be a role model for exceptionally high standards, never cutting corners, thriving on feedback and leading on culinary excellence.
• Confidently manage the handover of food at mealtimes. Ensuring all necessary information is provided, including accurate allergy details and portion sizes, and that each room receives the correct meals.

Our Flexi Chefs should have...

• Food Safety and Hygiene Level 2 or above (will be required to complete Level 3 during induction if not already held)
• Previous experience in a nursery or school commercial-sized kitchen
• Experience catering for diverse dietary needs
• Previous experience catering for very young children, with an understanding of food preparation guidelines
• Experience with Environmental Health inspections
• Good knowledge of food allergens and child nutrition, and ability to work to the nursery budget for each child

Personal attributes:

• A passionate, creative cook who loves working with children and families
• Conscious practices within food and cooking including recycling and creating as little food waste as possible
• Ability to work quickly and effectively during busy service times
• Positive outlook (someone who always sees the glass as half full)
• Bags of drive and motivation with a 'make it happen' attitude
• A love for customer service (you want to make people happy)
• High energy brought to every task you take on, and a solutions driven approach to problems

The N Advantage package

• Competitive pay – £15.94ph - £20.63ph (including 12.07% holiday entitlement), based on experience and dedication.
• Flexible hours that suit your lifestyle –Choose when you work.
• Daily Perks –Complimentary lunch and drinks every day.
• Referral Bonuses –Earn up to £1,000 for every friend you refer who joins N Family Club.
• Socials & wellbeing – Annual parties like our Festive Winter Party and Summer BBQ, team events, and our Wellbeing Week.
• Flexibility to join permanently – If you choose to join us permanently, you may receive a welcome bonus of up to £1,000!

Why N Buckhurst Hill?

Our 110-place N Buckhurst Hill nursery is a bright, spacious setting nestled in the heart of this leafy North East London suburb.

Situated in the heart of Buckhurst Hill, our nursery is nestled on Victoria Road – a handy 2-minute walk from Buckhurst Hill underground station and a stone’s throw from the bustling Queen’s Road.

Why N Family Club?

At N Family Club, we’re reimagining early years education – and we want you to be a part of it. We’re a certified Great Place to Work and one of the UK’s most innovative early years groups. With top salaries, unmatched benefits, and real career progression, we put our people first.