Junior Chef de Partie

Sodexo Ltd; Taunton; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free on-site parking

Full training and protective uniform

Monday–Friday shift with holidays off

Job summary

King’s College Taunton, in partnership with Sodexo, is seeking a Chef De Partie to lead with passion in a busy campus kitchen. The role focuses on delivering high-quality food for students, staff and visitors with a 25-hour week, Monday–Friday.

You will mentor kitchen staff, manage food preparation and help monitor labour and stock costs, all while upholding food safety and hygiene standards. This is a hands-on leadership role in a supportive team.

Qualifications

• Experience cooking on a large scale.
• Experience following recipes in a professional kitchen.
• Prior staff supervision or line management experience.
• Strong knowledge of fresh produce and ingredient preparation.
• Understanding of health and safety regulations and the ability to enforce them.
• Ability to work under pressure in a busy kitchen environment.
• Positive leadership, professionalism, and a passion for food.
• Hold basic food handling certifications, including: Level 2 Food Safety Certificate
• At least one year of hands-on cooking experience (Training in Food Hygiene and Health & Safety provided)

Responsibilities

• Oversee food replenishment and ensure work areas are cleaned, organised and maintained to a high standard.
• Develop, mentor and train kitchen staff to foster a positive and supportive team culture.
• Support the management of the catering operation, helping to monitor and optimise labour, food and stock costs.
• Maintain consistency in food quality and service standards for staff, visitors and students.
• Contribute to menu creation and development to keep offerings fresh, appealing and exciting.
• Conduct regular checks and audits to ensure compliance with food safety, hygiene and quality standards.
• Comply with all company policies and statutory regulations relating to health and safety, safe working practices, hygiene, cleanliness, fire safety and COSHH. This includes understanding and remaining aware of specific hazards within the workplace.
• Work collaboratively with the wider catering team to ensure smooth and efficient service.

Skills

Large-scale cooking

Follow recipes

Staff supervision

Food safety knowledge

Health & safety enforcement

Working under pressure

Leadership

Education

Level 2 Food Safety Certificate

Job description

Chef De Partie - Lead with Passion, Cook with Purpose!

Location: King's College Taunton, South Rd, Taunton TA1 3LA

Salary: £13.43 per hour

Hours: 25 hours per week

Working Pattern: Monday - Friday

Are you ready to take the lead in a kitchen where food fuels not just bodies but bright futures? As a

Chef de Partie for Sodexo at King’s College, you’ll play an important role in delivering high-quality food and beverage services for students, staff and visitors.You’ll help maintain excellent food standards, support your colleagues and contribute to a positive, productive kitchen environment.

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:

• Oversee food replenishment and ensure work areas are cleaned, organised and maintained to a high standard.
• Develop, mentor and train kitchen staff to foster a positive and supportive team culture.
• Support the management of the catering operation, helping to monitor and optimise labour, food and stock costs.
• Maintain consistency in food quality and service standards for staff, visitors and students.
• Contribute to menu creation and development to keep offerings fresh, appealing and exciting.
• Conduct regular checks and audits to ensure compliance with food safety, hygiene and quality standards.
• Comply with all company policies and statutory regulations relating to health and safety, safe working practices, hygiene, cleanliness, fire safety and COSHH. This includes understanding and remaining aware of specific hazards within the workplace.
• Work collaboratively with the wider catering team to ensure smooth and efficient service.

What You Bring:

• Experience cooking on a large scale
• Experience following recipes in a professional kitchen
• Prior staff supervision or line management experience
• Strong knowledge of fresh produce and ingredient preparation
• Understanding of health and safety regulations and the ability to enforce them
• Ability to work under pressure in a busy kitchen environment
• Positive leadership, professionalism, and a passion for food
• Hold basic food handling certifications, including: Level 2 Food Safety Certificate
• At least one year of hands‑on cooking experience (Training in Food Hygiene and Health & Safety provided)

What We Offer:

• A dynamic and supportive working environment.
• Competitive pay of £13.43 per hour.
• Free on-site parking.
• Full training and protective uniform provided.
• A Monday–Friday working pattern, with public holidays off, including Christmas.
• Unlimited access to mental health and wellbeing support.
• Employee Assistance Programme offering 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. If you’re ready to lead with passion and cook with purpose, we want to hear from you!

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.