Head Chef

Sodexo Group; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Uniform provided

Training and development

Wellbeing support

EAP

Cycle to work

Career progression

Job summary

Sodexo at Cheetham’s School of Music in Manchester is seeking a Head Chef to lead a high-volume catering operation serving up to 400 people across multiple service areas. You will plan and deliver meals, manage a team, and ensure quality, safety and efficiency in a fast-paced environment.

The role requires strong leadership, extensive contract catering experience, and a commitment to fresh food standards. Competitive salary and full benefits accompany the position.

Qualifications

• Experience in busy high-volume contract catering.
• Strong leadership and team management.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills.
• Communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage shifts and service periods.

Responsibilities

• Oversee core culinary activities across locations to ensure consistency and quality.
• Manage service delivery to meet performance, quality, and financial targets.
• Plan, cost, and implement menus using DRIVE planning tool.
• Recruit, induct and develop kitchen staff; address performance.
• Build long-term client relationships and support events.

Skills

High-volume catering

Team leadership

Food safety

Menu planning

Communication skills

Flexibility

Budget control

Education

NVQ Level 2 Food Production

Intermediate Food Hygiene certificate

Job description

Position

Head Chef

Location

Cheetham’s school of Music, Long Millgate, Manchester, M3 1SB

£40,000 per Annum

Hours

40 hours per week

Working Pattern

5 out of 7 days [6.30am - 2.30pm or/and 11am - 7pm (Flexible)

Every 3rd weekend off, All bank Holidays off and All public holidays off

Flexible working arrangements with No late finishes

Staff workplace meals provided

Are you ready to take the lead in a fast-paced kitchen where high-quality food delivery meets large-scale event catering?

As Head Chef with Sodexo, you will oversee a dynamic, high-volume catering operation at Cheetham’s School of Music,M3 1SB, preparing and delivering meals for up to 400 people across multiple service areas. This role goes beyond day-to-day cooking, you’ll play a key part in coordinating large-scale service, supporting events, and ensuring consistency, efficiency, and quality at every sitting.

Your leadership will be central to maintaining smooth operations in a busy environment, inspiring your team to perform at their best while delivering exceptional food and service standards.

Join Sodexo and be part of something greater. You belong in a team where you can act with purpose and thrive in your own way.

What You’ll Do

• Our ethos is “Fresh Food from Scratch” so it is imperative to prepare and present food to the notified standard, ensuring the standard of “fresh food from Scratch” is followed.
• Oversee and coordinate all core culinary activities across catering locations to ensure consistency and quality.
• Manage and control service delivery to meet specified performance, quality, and financial targets while maintaining high standards.
• Ensure value for money through effective supply chain management and purchasing practices.
• Build and nurture long-term client relationships to foster stability and growth.
• Recruit, induct and develop talented employees within the kitchen and, if necessary, firmly and fairly manage poor performance.
• Identify opportunities for organic growth and new business development within the catering operation.
• Ensure compliance with food hygiene, health, safety, and environmental legislation using Sodexo’s safety systems.
• Drive continuous improvement and innovation to meet the expectations of school and catering management.
• Provide strategic and technical support, offering professional advice to clients, colleagues, and the team.
• Plan, cost, and implement menus using the DRIVE planning tool, ensuring variety, seasonality, innovation, and financial robustness.
• Champion the Fresh Food Standards ensuring Cheetham’s is the unrivalled site for schools to see and shows off the very best to prospect accounts and visitors alike
• Be an active (site based) member of the Chef Development team for Independents by Sodexo by contributing dishes and recipes, attending meetings, assisting with projects
• Engage with key client groups - “Walk the Floor” during service periods and engage and interact with clients, colleagues, and any visitors. Attend pupil food committee meetings each half term
• Represent Sodexo at industry events.

What You Bring

Essential

• Experienced Chef who has operated in a busy high volume contract catering, client facing environment
• Good communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to be an effective team player
• Flexible, with the ability to work under pressure and across a range of shifts and service times
• Direct management experience of chefs / kitchen brigade
• Clear, strong and effective leadership style
• Strong ability to increase individuals’ effectiveness through leadership, motivation, communication, coaching and training
• Excellent time management and organisational skills
• Ability to set and maintain standards
• NVQ level 2 Food Production certificate or equivalent
• Intermediate Food Hygiene certificate
• Strong level of literacy and numeracy

Desirable

• Ability to review problems analytically, develop opportunities and implement innovative solutions / approaches
• PC literate
• Advanced Food Safety or Health and Safety qualification

What We Offer

• A dynamic and supportive work environment
• Competitive salary and benefits
• Full training and protective uniform provided
• Unlimited access to mental health and wellbeing support
• Employee Assistance Programme for legal, financial, and personal support
• Discounts, cashback schemes, and financial benefits
• Career progression, learning opportunities, and apprenticeships
• Cycle to Work Scheme and volunteering opportunities

At Sodexo, we believe everyone deserves a place to belong. This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to be part of something bigger.

Note

Sodexo and our clients are committed to safeguarding children. All roles require pre-employment screening, including DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) and past employer checks.

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