Mobile Unit Manager

Gateshead Council; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 28,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Salary

Local Government Pension Scheme

Learning & Development opportunities

Employee benefits programme

Job summary

Gateshead Council is seeking a Mobile Catering Unit Manager to lead catering teams across Gateshead schools, delivering high-quality, nutritious two-course mid-day meals to 100–300 pupils daily.

This part-time, term-time role offers flexi-time and hybrid-working options where available, a competitive local government salary, pension, and development opportunities to grow your catering leadership career.

Qualifications

• Up-to-date understanding and application of health and safety and food safety legislation.
• Level 2 Award in Food Safety.
• Full clean UK driving licence and access to a vehicle (mileage expenses paid).
• Experience providing excellent service in a similar catering role.
• Experience managing teams in a similar role.
• Experience working within a similar environment in the catering industry.
• Previous experience within the school meals industry.
• Ability to work in a team.
• Flexible approach to work.
• Commitment to high standards.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and assist with the preparation, cooking and service of a two course mid-day meal, ordering and correct storage of food and other stock. Management of food costs within a given budget.
• Supervise and assist with thorough cleaning of kitchen premises, equipment and dining room furniture to ensure food safety standards are met and maintained.
• Assist catering management in developing and improving the service, with a key role in helping to increase meal uptake.
• Help support staff through changes to the service.
• Participate in promotional and theme days throughout the year.
• Maintain standards, systems and records relating to the service in line with HACCP policy.
• Ensure all medical and special diets are dealt with per policy.
• Represent the service at parent meetings and promote the service.
• Supervise a small catering team, training including induction and safety briefings and rota planning.
• Management of labour costs within a given budget and structure of hours.
• Supervise working methods to ensure health and safety and food safety are met.
• Undertake training for personal and service development and menu development.
• Ensure high standards of customer care and liaise with Headteacher, school staff, pupils, parents, Governors and visitors.
• Handle complaints promptly per council policy.
• Any other responsibilities appropriate to the grade.

Skills

Health & food safety knowledge

Level 2 Food Safety

Full clean UK driving licence

Team leadership

Customer service

Experience in school meals

Flexible approach to work

Commitment to high standards

Education

Level 2 Food Safety (qualification)

Job description

Who we are & what we stand for

Do you want to help make Gateshead a place where everyone thrives? If that sounds like you, keep reading - we might be the perfect match.

We’re delighted that you’re interested in working with us. You’d be joining us at a very exciting time.

We pride ourselves on our ambitious and forward-thinking approach to taking care of Gateshead and its people, and we passionately believe that our employees reflect that spirit in truly enabling Gateshead to thrive.

At Gateshead Council you’d be a highly valued member of a team that recognises and respects the skills that you bring to your role, encourages creativity and passionately advocates a great work / life balance. Our actions speak louder than words, and with flexi-time and hybrid working available across many of our roles, as well as a full suite of outstanding employee benefits, we’re confident that it isn’t just the salary that attracts our staff.

Please note: We regularly recruit to these positions and have a variety of working hours and locations available. If shortlisted, we'll contact you to confirm what we have available at that time, and what works for you. If we don't have what you're looking for available at the time, with your permission we'll retain your application and get in touch when we have something suitable. For more information, please contact [e-mail]

Please note, this is a part-time, term-time only post and the advertised salary is pro rata for the hours worked.

The Property, Assets and Traded Services team are pivotal in the Council’s building, asset and estates management, keeping Council properties, including Schools, clean, safe and healthy for all who use them. Our wider teams also take care of planned preventative maintenance programmes and capital project management and delivery.

About the role:

We Require a Mobile Catering Unit Manager who has the skills, drive, and passion to lead the various catering teams and deliver the highest quality of food and service, they must be able to adapt to various kitchens across the Gateshead Brough. You will cater for between 100 and 300 pupils each day to provide a choice mid-day two course meal. This is an exciting opportunity for you to join our enthusiastic and hardworking team as Mobile Catering Unit Manager.

What you'll get to do:

• Oversee and assist with the preparation, cooking and service of a two course mid-day meal, ordering and correct storage of food and other stock. Management of food costs within a given budget.
• Supervise and assist with the thorough cleaning of the kitchen premises, equipment and dining room furniture to ensure food safety standards are met and maintained.
• Assist the catering management team in developing and improving the service, with a key role in helping to increase meal number uptake.
• Help support staff through changes to the service.
• Participate in promotional and theme days throughout the year.
• To maintain standards, systems and records relating to the service in line with the services HACCP policy.
• Ensure all medical and alternative diets are dealt with in line with the Catering Service Policy.
• Represent the service at parent meetings, generally promoting the service.
• Supervise of a small catering team, training including induction, refreshers, Tool Box Talks, Food Safety Matters Talks, COOSH, manual handling, risk assessments and safe working procedures and general skills training. Planning staff rota’s and allocation of duties.
• Management of labour costs within a given budget and structure of hours.
• Supervise working methods and practices to ensure the highest standards of health and safety and food safety are met.
• Undertake training in personal and service development as required, to participate in menu development.
• Ensure the highest standards of customer care are practiced, including liaising with the Headteacher, Business Manager, school staff, pupils, parents, Governors and visitors.
• Ensure complaints and requests for service are dealt with promptly in line with the Council policy on customer care.
• Any other such responsibilities allocated which are appropriate to the grade of the post.

What you'll bring (Essential Criteria)

• Up-to-date understanding and application of health and safety and food safety legislation
• Level 2 Award in Food Safety
• Full clean UK driving licence and access to a vehicle (mileage expenses paid)
• Experience providing excellent service in a similar catering role
• Experience managing teams in a similar role
• Experience working within a similar environment in the catering industry
• Previous experience within the school meals industry
• Ability to work in a team
• Flexible approach to work
• Commitment to high standards

What’s in it for you

• Competitive Salary: We offer fair and transparent pay that reflects your skills and experience.
• Outstanding Pension Scheme: We don’t just offer a great salary – we invest in your future too. Find out what benefits a Local Government Pension provides: https://twpf.info
• Learning & Development: Access a wide range of training, development, and progression opportunities to help you grow your career.
• Health & Wellbeing Support: From discounted gym memberships through our partner GLL to mental health resources, we care about your wellbeing.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Save money and stay active with our tax-efficient cycle to work programme.
• Electric & Hybrid Car Scheme: Get behind the wheel of a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle through our salary sacrifice car scheme in partnership with NHS Fleet Solutions – a cost-effective, environmentally friendly way to drive (after 12 months service).
• Exclusive Discounts & Salary Sacrifice: Through our VIVUP employee benefits platform, enjoy discounts on shopping, travel, and services – plus salary sacrifice options on white goods, electronics, and more, helping you spread the cost of essential purchases (after 6 months service).

Our commitment to you

We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to have a culture and a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected and empowered to do their best work. We know that we deliver better services when our workforce reflects the full range of backgrounds and experiences in the society we serve. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. However, in high-volume recruitment situations, it may not always be practicable to interview every eligible candidate. In such cases, we may need to prioritise those who best meet the essential criteria, based on the information provided in the application.

Additionally, the Council reserves the right to close this vacancy early or adjust the shortlisting criteria, including the pass mark for interview selection, to ensure a fair and manageable recruitment process. We encourage early applications.