Head Chef

Norwich City College; Norwich; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

An educational institution in Norwich is seeking a skilled Head Chef for Début Restaurant & Café. This role focuses on training and mentoring students while ensuring high food safety standards and quality service. The ideal candidate will bring industry experience and a passion for education. This position offers a balance of work-life and an opportunity to transition into teaching within a supportive environment.

Benefits

Excellent work-life balance

Support for developing teaching skills

Qualifications

• Highly skilled chef with experience in training and developing others.
• Up-to-date knowledge of employer needs and skills gaps in the hospitality industry.
• Passion for mentoring learners and delivering high-quality training.

Responsibilities

• Deliver practical training in a working environment.
• Identify income-generating opportunities through restaurant outlets.
• Plan menus that promote healthy eating.

Skills

Mentoring and training

Industry knowledge

Food safety compliance

Menu planning

Job description

Head Chef – Debut Restaurant & Café

£33,085 - £35,045 per annum

37 hours per week, 52 weeks per year

Monday to Friday schedule, with one early evening per week (until 9pm during term time)

Occasional Saturday work may be required

A rare and highly attractive role offering an exception work-life balance

We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity to join the Team at Début Restaurant & Café, supporting our students across a diverse range of professional and technical qualifications within a dynamic hospitality and catering environment.

The successful candidate will play a key role in training and developing learners’ skills to meet and exceed awarding body standards. You will bring up-to-date knowledge of employer needs and industry skills gaps, alongside an enthusiastic, hands‑on approach that inspires and motivates students.

In this role, you will supervise daily food production operations within our training restaurant, working alongside a small group of learners to deliver a variety of high‑quality lunch services.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver practical training in a real working environment, ensuring learners gain hands‑on experience.
• Identify and develop income‑generating opportunities through Début outlets.
• Plan menus and food choices that align with curriculum requirements and promote healthy eating principles.
• Ensure full compliance with food safety standards and implement robust food safety strategies across all catering outlets.
• Support learners in meeting awarding body criteria while maintaining high customer service standards.
• Plan and conduct assessments and facilitate work experience opportunities within operational areas.
• Supervise and lead students during lunch and occasional dinner services in the training catering environments.
• Plan menus and provide catering for college events such as graduations and awards ceremonies, which may require occasional weekend working.

While a formal teaching qualification or prior teaching experience is not required, we are seeking a highly skilled and experienced chef with a passion for mentoring others. Your industry knowledge and practical expertise will be invaluable in helping learners develop confidence and competence across all levels of their education.

This is an excellent opportunity for a chef looking to transition into education and training, with full support provided to develop your teaching skills.

If you are passionate about food, dedicated to developing the next generation of hospitality professionals, and ready for a rewarding new challenge, we’d love to hear from you!

Closing date: Friday 12th December at midday

As a College we are required to undertake various Safer Recruitment checks as set out within the guidance from the Department for Education Keeping Child Safe in Education. We require all staff to undertake an enhanced Adult and Child Workforce DBS Check and to register with the DBS Update Service. Please note: From 28 November 2020 the government implemented changes to the filtering rules, and we have been instructed that we cannot accept any update service checks on DBS certificates that have been issued before this date. Therefore, a new one must be completed with City College Norwich.