Group Chef

Aramark; Sandbach; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Term-time contract with school breaks

Benefits app access

Online GP & Employee Support

Discounts on shopping and travel

Pension & life assurance

Generous holiday allowance

Training & development

Career progression opportunities

Job summary

Aramark is seeking a Group Chef to support the Cheshire School Group, overseeing menus and dining across Nantwich, Alsager, Crewe and Macclesfield. The role focuses on inspiring teams, developing the culinary offer and delivering outstanding dining experiences for students and staff.

The post requires leadership, creativity and a hands-on approach, with accountability for standards, cost control and DBS checks where needed. A permanent, term-time friendly contract is offered.

Qualifications

• Experience in catering, hospitality or food service.
• Experience leading and developing teams.
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Good understanding of food safety and hygiene standards.
• Commercial awareness and experience managing budgets.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.
• Ability to pass a DBS check.

Responsibilities

• Developing exciting, nutritious and engaging menus across multiple sites.
• Working with the Group Manager and school stakeholders to create outstanding concepts.
• Leading catering teams across locations and driving quality and consistency.
• Delivering projects from concept through to implementation.
• Monitoring food costs, waste and operating expenses.
• Championing excellent customer service and student engagement.

Skills

Catering leadership

Menu development

Team management

Food safety

Budget management

Stakeholder communication

Driving licence

DBS check exposure

Job description

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Location: Cheshire School Group (10 Campuses) Base Location: Alsager
Annual salary: £26,500 per annum
Contract type: Permanent, 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday, Term Time Only (38 Working Weeks)

Lead, Inspire and Make a Difference Through Food
Are you a talented chef who loves creating exciting menus, developing people and making a positive impact every day?

Looking for a role that offers creativity, variety and genuine work-life balance, with evenings, weekends and school holidays largely your own?

We're looking for a passionate Group Chef to support our Cheshire School Group, working across multiple sites including Nantwich, Alsager, Crewe and Macclesfield. This is an exciting opportunity to influence the food offer across several schools, inspire catering teams and help shape outstanding dining experiences for thousands of students and staff.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all employees and workers to share this commitment. All roles are subject to safer recruitment checks, including references and an enhanced DBS check, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE).

Why Join Aramark?
At Aramark, we know that great food starts with great people.

You'll enjoy the freedom to share your ideas, develop exciting menus and work alongside a supportive team that values innovation, creativity and high standards.

What's in it for you?

• Term-time only contract with school holidays off
• Monday to Friday working pattern
• Free access to our Employee Benefits App
• Online GP and Employee Assistance Programme
• Hundreds of discounts on shopping, travel, entertainment and more
• Pension scheme and life assurance
• Generous holiday allowance with the option to buy more
• Ongoing training and development
• Fantastic career progression opportunities
• We love to promote from within, so this could be the next step in a long and successful career with Aramark.

What you'll be doing:

As Group Chef, you'll play a key role in enhancing and developing the culinary offer across multiple school sites, by:

• Developing exciting, nutritious and engaging menus
• Working closely with the Group Manager and school stakeholders to create outstanding food concepts
• Leading and supporting catering teams across multiple locationsDriving food quality, consistency and innovation
• Delivering projects from concept through to implementation
• Monitoring food costs, waste and operating expenses
• Championing excellent customer service and student engagement
• Supporting the launch of new products, menus and initiatives
• Building strong supplier relationships to ensure excellent quality and value
• Ensuring all food safety, hygiene and compliance standards are maintained.

What we're looking for:

We're looking for a confident and experienced chef who can motivate others and bring fresh ideas to the table. You’ll have:

• Previous experience within catering, hospitality or food service
• Experience leading and developing teams
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills
• A good understanding of food safety and hygiene standards
• Commercial awareness and experience managing budgets
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail
• A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle
• The ability to pass a DBS check.

Why this role is different:

This isn't just another chef position.

It's an opportunity to influence menus across multiple schools, develop talented teams, introduce new food concepts and play a meaningful role in improving the dining experience for young people every day.

If you're looking for a role that combines leadership, creativity and work-life balance, we'd love to hear from you.

About Aramark UK
At Aramark UK, we're committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone is valued, supported and empowered to succeed.

As aDisability Confident employer, we're dedicated to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to all candidates. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process and employment journey.

If you require any assistance, please contact: [e-mail]