Partnership Development Chef

Impact Food Group; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Staff discount scheme

Pension scheme

Monthly incentives

Training opportunities

Qualifications

Job summary

Impact Food Group is seeking a Partnership Development Chef to strengthen school partnerships, raise food quality, and champion brand standards across UK schools. The role focuses on the North of England, with a preference for Midlands, Manchester or Leeds corridor, and involves collaborating with operations to support contract milestones and retention.

Responsibilities include culinary support, student engagement activities, audits, coaching catering teams, and coordinating with marketing for

Job description

Partnership Development Chef

Leeds / Manchester / Midlands

Impact Food Group

At Impact Food Group, we're more than just a school caterer. We're on a mission to create a positive food culture and help more students enjoy healthier, better-quality food. Making a positive social impact is at the heart of everything we do. We're constantly learning, evolving, and improving — every way, every day.

We one of England’s fastest-growing school food providers, serving around one million students every dayacross more than 1,500 schools. We are dedicated to delivering high-quality, nutritious meals that support student wellbeing and enjoyment.

Our brands include Innovate, Cucina, Chapter One (Independent Schools), Hutchison, and Dolce, reflecting our breadth of experience and reach across the school catering sector.

Guided by our values, integrity, bold, impactful, humble and community; you will help us shape a workplace and culture we can all be proud of.

The Role

The Partnership Development Chef plays a key role in protecting and strengthening IFG's partnerships by enhancing the student dining experience, raising food quality and championing brand standards across our schools.

Working closely with Operations teams, this role brings innovation, culinary expertise and energy to schools approaching key contract milestones, ensuring every client experiences the very best of IFG.

Primarily supporting schools across the North of England, the successful candidate will ideally be based within the Midlands, Manchester or Leeds corridor.

What you'll be Doing

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver exceptional culinary support across schools identified as retention priorities.
• Lead student engagement initiatives including tasting events, theme days and food demonstrations in priority schools.
• Carry out a simple audit at schools visited, relaying the findings to the Operations Manager and Director of Business Development.
• Coach and mentor catering teams to improve presentation, service standards and customer experience.
• Support Regional Operations teams with mobilisation, contract extensions and tender preparations.
• Drive Brand Standards through regular site visits, audits and practical coaching.
• Attend retention presentations with the teams you have been supporting.
• Work alongside Marketing to develop engaging food content, photography and promotional campaigns where required.
• Act as a culinary ambassador for IFG at conferences, client presentations and operational meetings.

What Success Looks Like

• Improved student participation and satisfaction.
• Stronger client confidence in IFG's food offer.
• Consistent Brand Standards across supported schools.
• Increased engagement, and ultimately, contract retention.
• High-quality food innovation shared across the business.

What's in It for You?

• The opportunity to build a career you can be proud of in a growing business.
• Access to a wide range of free training, qualifications, and development opportunities
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Staff discount scheme across 850+ retailers
• Pension scheme and other great company benefits
• Monthly incentives and recognition for top performers

#Join Our Team #makeanimpact

If you're looking for your next step and want to be part of an organisation that genuinely makes a difference, we'd love to hear from you.

IFG are committed to the safeguarding of children, and our employees share this commitment. Successful candidates are required to undergo an enhanced DBS check, which IFG will pay for.

We area committed equal opportunities employer - if you require any assistance for the interview process, please detail within your application. Allinformation is kept confidential and in compliance with GDPR requirements.