Flexi Chef - Essex

nfamilyclub; Buckhurst Hill; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 29,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

0-hour contract

Free lunch and drinks

Referral bonus

Social events

Welcome bonus

Job summary

N Family Club is seeking a dedicated Flexi Chef to prepare meals for children across Buckhurst Hill and Upminster nurseries. You’ll follow nutritionist recipes, cater to allergies, and manage daily kitchen tasks while supporting varied shift patterns to ensure top nutrition for all age groups.

As a Flexi Chef you’ll enjoy flexible hours under a Casual Working Agreement, with complimentary lunch daily and opportunities to mentor apprentices while upholding strict hygiene standards.

Qualifications

• Food Safety Level 2 required; Level 3 during induction if not held
• Nursery or school kitchen experience
• Experience catering for diverse dietary needs
• Experience catering for very young children and understanding of food prep guidelines
• Experience with Environmental Health inspections
• Good knowledge of food allergens and budgeting per child

Responsibilities

• Cook fresh, nutritious meals for children, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks
• Follow nutritionist-designed recipes to ensure vitamins and nutrients
• Cater to dietary needs and food allergies; prevent cross-contamination
• Prepare a daily lunch and smoothie for nursery staff; manage orders and stock rotation
• Maintain kitchen hygiene and 5-star Food Hygiene rating; complete paperwork daily
• Mentor nursery apprentices and uphold company H&S policies
• Ensure accurate allergy information and portion sizes during mealtimes

Skills

Food Safety Level 2

Nursery kitchen experience

Allergen awareness

Dietary needs catering

Food prep for young children

Job 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.

Our nurseries are located in Buckhurst Hill and Upminster. You'll choose your preferred base nursery, with opportunities to support other N Family Club nurseries across the Essex when needed.

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 – This role is offered on a Casual Working Agreement (0-hour contract), giving you the flexibility to choose shifts that work for you.
• 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 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.