Lead Chef Manager – High-Volume School Kitchen

Impact Food Group; Linton; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free meals on shift

Uniform provided

Training & development opportunities

Career progression

Staff discount scheme

Job summary

Impact Food Group (IFG) is one of England’s fastest-growing school food providers, serving around one million students daily across more than 1,500 schools. As Chef Manager, you’ll run a high-volume kitchen, lead a team, and deliver fresh, seasonal meals to hundreds of pupils.

This hands-on, leadership role covers menu planning, stock control, budgets, and strict food hygiene, safety and compliance. We offer daytime hours, term-time weeks, free meals on shift, uniforms, training and career

Qualifications

• Previous experience managing a kitchen, ideally in schools or high-volume catering environments.
• Proven ability to cook fresh, seasonal food at high volumes.
• Strong people management and team leadership skills.
• Experience managing kitchen operations, stock, and compliance.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• A proactive, hands-on approach and pride in maintaining high standards.

Responsibilities

• Leading, motivating, and developing your catering team
• Preparing and serving fresh, seasonal meals at high volume
• Planning menus, managing stock, and controlling budgets
• Ensuring all food hygiene, safety, and compliance standards are met
• Building strong relationships with onsite clients and stakeholders
• Overseeing the smooth running of service, from prep to finish

Skills

Leadership

High-volume catering

People management

Organizational skills

Communication

Job description

Impact Food Group (IFG) is one of England’s fastest-growing school food providers, serving around one million students daily across more than 1,500 schools. As Chef Manager, you’ll run a high-volume kitchen, lead a team, and deliver fresh, seasonal meals to hundreds of pupils.

This hands-on, leadership role covers menu planning, stock control, budgets, and strict food hygiene, safety and compliance. We offer daytime hours, term-time weeks, free meals on shift, uniforms, training and career