Kitchen Manager and Cook

Loughborough University; Loughborough; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Health plan

Staff discounts

Holidays

Facilities access

Job summary

Loughborough University is seeking a Kitchen Manager and Cook to lead the main campus kitchen operations for LSU. This hands-on role combines cooking excellence with the responsibility to shape and develop our food offer for students.

You will supervise a team of casual catering assistants, work closely with the Catering Manager, and ensure high kitchen standards across outlets The Kitchen, Humpit, and JC's Bar, including large events and bookings.

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen operations and ensure high standard of food quality.
• Manage a team of casual catering staff and supervise day-to-day service.
• Support catering for large events and bookings throughout the year.

Job description

The University is dedicated to supporting an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment - to create better futures, together. The diverse backgrounds, characteristics and opinions within our community are our great strength and are key to our pursuit of delivering educational excellence, enterprise, research and professional services. We welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds and minoritized groups as they are currently under-represented within our community.

We recognise the value of a fulfilling and balanced work and personal life which promotes wellbeing. We seek to support colleagues in achieving this balance and have family-friendly policies, flexible working arrangements and many roles can be suitable for dynamic working arrangement. This includes considering applications to work on a part-time, flexible and job share basis wherever possible.

We are proud to be a Real Living Wage Employer—so much so that we go beyond the standard, providing additional supplementary payments at specific pay points to further support our employees' financial wellbeing. Further information about the Loughborough Real Living Wage Supplement can be found on our HR webpage .

Loughborough University is a UKVI Sponsor. Some individuals may require sponsorship to enable them to apply for a visa to provide them with the right to work in the UK. Please note certain roles are not eligible for sponsorship. For further information and eligibility please visit the UKVI website .

Job details

Job title Kitchen Manager and Cook Job reference REQ260712 Date posted 25/09/2026 Application closing date 22/10/2026 Location Loughborough Package LSU Scale 7, £29082 per annum (pro-rata for part-time)

Job description

Full-time, open ended, rota 5 of 7

LSU Scale 7, £29082 per annum (pro-rata for part-time)

Loughborough Students’ Union (LSU) is looking for a Kitchen Manager to join our team and take the lead on the food operation within our main Commercial Kitchen which services our three outlets branded The Kitchen, Humpit, and JC’s Bar.

This is a hands‑on role for someone who enjoys being in the kitchen and producing great food, but who also wants the opportunity to take ownership of the operational output. You’ll work in collaboration with our Catering Manager, to lead food service day-to-day, manage a team of casual catering assistants, ensure high kitchen standards, and help us build a food offer that our students genuinely want to come back for.

LSU also provides catering for large hospitality events and bookings throughout the year, which could range from hot or cold buffet style service, to 3-course dinners or bespoke BBQs.

This isn’t just a traditional restaurant or pub kitchen role, you’ll be joining an operation where there is genuine opportunity to shape and develop our food offer and we strongly encourage you to read the applicant pack and visit our website to find out more about LSU.

The role is 35 hours per week, normally worked across five days out of seven. Our operation is busiest when our students are here, so flexibility is important especially during our University terms. The role will include evening and weekend work as part of a rota, particularly around key events and busy periods such as Freshers’ in late September and awards session in May and June. LSU Staff benefits include contributory pension scheme (Aegon), health care cash plan membership, enhanced statutory holidays, staff discounts and access to university facilities.

For more information please see the job description and person specification or an informal conversation please contact [e-mail]

Application deadline is the 23:59 on 22nd October2026 with Interviews to follow on Thursday 29th and Friday 30th October 2026

• contributory pension scheme (Aegon)


• health care cash plan membership


• enhanced statutory holidays


• staff discounts


• access to university facilities