Kitchen Manager

Avenue Centre for Education; Luton; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Part time

Job summary

Avenue Centre for Education in Luton is seeking an experienced Kitchen Manager to run the school kitchen for 27.5 hours per week during term time. The role is fixed-term with the intention to become permanent based on performance and school needs.

You will plan and cook breakfast, snacks and a two-course lunch for around 40-70 pupils daily, oversee menu planning, stock and hygiene, and maintain records to ensure safety and efficiency.

Qualifications

• Experience managing a school kitchen or similar environment.
• Ability to plan meals for 40–70 pupils daily.
• Knowledge of food hygiene and allergen requirements.

Responsibilities

• Plan, prepare and cook breakfast, snacks and a two-course lunch for pupils daily.
• Manage menu planning, food ordering, stock control and kitchen records.
• Ensure food safety, hygiene and allergen handling across all meals.

Skills

Food hygiene

Menu planning

Stock management

Allergen handling

Catering operations

Job description

Post Title: Kitchen Manager

Start Date: Oct/Nov 2026 Hours: 27.5 hours per week, term time only

Job Type: Fixed Term Contract - This role is initially offered on a fixed-term basis, with the intention of making the position permanent, subject to satisfactory performance and the ongoing needs of the school.

Salary Grade: NJC L3 SCP 6-8 (£25,989-£26,824) The salary will be pro rata plus LGPS pension benefits.

We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Kitchen Manager to take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the kitchen at Avenue Centre for Education, a Pupil Referral Unit in Luton.

Working independently as our sole Kitchen Manager, you will plan, prepare and cook breakfast, mid-morning snacks and a two-course lunch, providing fresh, nutritious and appealing meals for approximately 40-70 pupils each day.

You will also manage menu planning, food ordering, stock control, food hygiene and allergen requirements, cleaning and catering records, ensuring the kitchen remains safe, efficient and well organised.

Why work at ACE?

This is an opportunity to become an important part of a specialist school community, where your work can make a real difference to young people every day. The role offers the independence to manage and organise your own kitchen, while being part of the wider ACE team. As a term-time-only position, working 27.5 hours per week over 38 weeks, it also offers working arrangements that fit around the school year.

We are looking for someone who takes pride in their food, enjoys working with young people and wants a rewarding role where their contribution is genuinely valued.

Safeguarding Statement:

ACE is committed to safeguarding children and young people. Our interviews will always include relevant questions relating to child protection and/or safeguarding. A satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) with a Children’s Barred List Check is required as a condition of employment. In accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), an online search will be conducted on shortlisted candidates to identify anything that may need further exploration with candidates. It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

Equal Opportunities Statement:

At the Avenue Centre we believe that all individuals are of equal value and we are committed to equal opportunities for all. All people who work and study in the school have the right to be respected and valued within a safe and secure environment and not to be discriminated against on the grounds of age, class, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation and religion or belief. To help us meet our high standards and aspirations of a fully diverse and inclusive workplace, we strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for this vacancy.

Internal Closing Date: Mid-day on Friday 2nd October Interview Date: Week of 12th October