Mobile Catering Manager: Lead Kitchen & Menus

Education Authority (Northern Ireland); Ballymena; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

The Education Authority (Northern Ireland) seeks a Catering Manager to lead day‑to‑day kitchen operations serving children and staff. You will oversee skilled cooking activities, portion control, dietary requirements, and the safe operation of kitchen equipment, while ensuring high service standards across dining centres and production kitchens.

You will supervise catering teams, manage stock, ordering and budgets, and drive improvements in food safety, HACCP compliance, and customer service.

Qualifications

• Hold NVQ level 2 in food preparation and cooking or City & Guilds 706-1 & 706-2 or equivalent or higher relevant qualification
• OR
• have two years’ demonstrable experience in food preparation and cooking within a catering establishment
• Evidence of effective supervision or management of a catering team
• Demonstrable experience in stock control, budget management and financial controls

Responsibilities

• Execute skilled cooking activities and innovation connected to the full range of menu provisions, for example, preparation of menus, portion control, plating presentation, special dietary meals, including the texture modification of food for special diets (IDDSI), theme days/events and function catering where appropriate
• Organise and supervise all aspects of food service, including service points and the transportation of meals, if required
• The role includes the overall management of dining centre kitchens as well as the production kitchen
• Follow EA policies and procedures for safe cooking and food service to meet current standards of food safety legislation
• Ensure you are aware of all allergen and special dietary requirements and that the Allergen Matrix is always up to date.
• Make sure that food temperatures are recorded and complete records as required
• Manage deliveries, ordering, storage, and stock‑take to ensure food safety and minimum wastage
• Ensure the safe operation of kitchen equipment and report any equipment defects
• Report any incident of fire, loss, damage, unfit food, or signs of pest infestation, e.g., mice, etc.
• Secure premises as required
• Actively promote the catering service through parents, principals, pupils and customers to increase the uptake of meals and including theme days and events
• Establish effective communication links with the school on all aspects of service delivery
• Investigate and report local‑level customer complaints to the Regional Operations Manager
• Manage internal risk assessments, including the Fire Risk Assessment
• Develop a friendly and helpful atmosphere and professionally handle any feedback, including complaints
• Other duties assigned by the Regional Operations Manager from time to time to ensure the smooth running of the kitchen
• People Management: Efficient management of the teams, ensuring we deliver a high‑quality service
• Supervise and direct employees, including allocating duties and work rotas
• Actively participate in implementing all policies relating to staff issues
• Induct all new staff, including relief staff, as per the Induction Checklist and monitor them
• Carry out all relevant and essential training as detailed by the Regional Operations Manager
• Ensure effective communication at all levels through regular staff meetings
• Manage staff performance, complete appraisals for catering staff, and set targets
• Financial: Monitor the unit's financial performance, maintain costs within pre‑budgeted targets, and assist in implementing financial procedures
• Complete clerical duties, bookwork, ordering of goods
• Handle cash transactions and ensure accurate cash handling procedures
• Responsible for managing all resources, including food, labour, overheads, and equipment and ensuring correct financial procedures

Skills

Leadership

Interpersonal skills

Planning & organisation

Decision making

Sales experience

Customer service

Team player

Education

NVQ level 2 / City & Guilds 706-1 & 706-2 or equivalent

Two years experience in catering

Tools

MS Outlook

Excel

Word

Teams

Job description

The Education Authority (Northern Ireland) seeks a Catering Manager to lead day‑to‑day kitchen operations serving children and staff. You will oversee skilled cooking activities, portion control, dietary requirements, and the safe operation of kitchen equipment, while ensuring high service standards across dining centres and production kitchens.

You will supervise catering teams, manage stock, ordering and budgets, and drive improvements in food safety, HACCP compliance, and customer service.