Lead Cook Manager — High-Volume School Kitchen

Sodexo Group; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 38,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free meals on shift

Term-time working

Career progression opportunities

Employee benefits package

Work-life balance

Job summary

Sodexo is hiring a Cook Manager for a large secondary school operation in Richmond. You will oversee the kitchen, ensure high standards of food quality and service, and lead a sizeable catering team in a busy environment.

This role offers term-time hours (39 weeks) with 7:00am–3:00pm shifts, 40 hours per week, and a salary of £18.50 per hour plus benefits. You will drive excellent dining experiences for students and staff while maintaining compliance and cost controls.

Qualifications

• Experienced Cook Manager or Kitchen Manager in large-scale catering.
• Experience in school/education catering or contract catering.
• Experience cooking for high-volume services (500–1,500 covers).
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent cooking and food presentation.
• Experience managing food ordering, stock control and budgets.
• Ability to complete kitchen administration and compliance paperwork.
• Strong computer skills with catering systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead a busy kitchen producing up to 1,500 meals per day.
• Prepare and cook fresh, nutritious meals.
• Manage and motivate a large catering team.
• Support, train and develop kitchen staff.
• Manage food ordering, deliveries and supplier relationships.
• Complete daily paperwork and compliance documentation.
• Run daily operational reports and stock takes.
• Maintain food safety, HACCP and health & safety standards.

Skills

Leadership

High-volume service

Food presentation

Staff development

Budget management

HACCP & Food Safety

Allergen management

Catering systems

Education

NVQ Level 2

Level 2 Food Safety Certificate

Tools

Catering systems

Job description

Sodexo is hiring a Cook Manager for a large secondary school operation in Richmond. You will oversee the kitchen, ensure high standards of food quality and service, and lead a sizeable catering team in a busy environment.

This role offers term-time hours (39 weeks) with 7:00am–3:00pm shifts, 40 hours per week, and a salary of £18.50 per hour plus benefits. You will drive excellent dining experiences for students and staff while maintaining compliance and cost controls.