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Dumfries and Galloway Council; Dumfries; On-site; GBP 14,000 - 15,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Vivup discounts

LGPS discounts

Cycle-to-Work

Wellbeing support

Job summary

Dumfries and Galloway Council is seeking a Catering Manager for the school kitchen, delivering nutritious meals to pupils. You will lead and inspire a catering team, ensuring high-quality meals and service across our Early Years and School Meals service.

The role is part-time (25 hours/week, 38 weeks/year) with a starting hourly rate of £14.27. PVG checks and a comprehensive benefits package accompany the position.

Qualifications

• Experience supervising or managing in a catering environment.
• Strong cooking skills and a passion for good food.
• Ability to stay organised and perform under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operation of the kitchen and catering team.
• Plan and prepare nutritious meals for children.
• Manage the kitchen budget and resources.
• Maintain high food safety standards (HACCP and CookSafe).
• Ensure accurate allergen information and respond to queries.
• Follow Council policies and best practice guidance.
• Handle cash and records where required.
• Use digital systems to support kitchen operations.
• Keep up to date with food trends and improve dining experience.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Cooking skills

Work under pressure

Proactive problem solving

Food safety

Customer service

Job description

You will be required to work 25 hours per week, 38 weeks per year.

9am – 2pm Monday to Friday

£14.27 starting hourly rate

Be the Recipe for Success in Our School Kitchen!

Lead, inspire and create.

We're looking for an enthusiastic Catering Manager to lead our school kitchen, creating nutritious, delicious meals that help pupils thrive. If you're a hands‑on leader who enjoys making a difference in your community, we'd love to welcome you to our team.

As a Catering Manager, you'll have the support of your line manager to help you succeed in the role.

We're looking for someone with previous supervisory or management experience in a catering environment, along with good cooking skills and a passion for providing great food and excellent service.

What You'll Be Doing

As our Catering Manager, you'll play a key role in providing nutritious, high‑quality meals for children and young people across our Early Years and School Meals service. No two days are the same, and you'll be delivering an excellent dining experience.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading the day‑to‑day operation of the kitchen and catering team.
• Planning and preparing nutritious meals that children enjoy.
• Managing the kitchen budget and ensuring resources are used effectively.
• Maintaining high standards of food safety, including HACCP and CookSafe procedures.
• Ensuring allergen information is managed accurately and safely.
• Resolving challenges and responding positively to feedback or queries.
• Following Council policies, procedures and best practice guidance.
• Handling cash and maintaining accurate records where required.
• Using a range of digital systems and technology to support kitchen operations.
• Keeping up to date with food trends and finding ways to enhance the customer experience.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who:

• Has previous supervisory or management experience within a catering environment.
• Possesses strong cooking skills and a passion for food.
• Can stay organised and work effectively under pressure.
• Takes a proactive approach to solving problems and managing competing priorities.
• Is committed to delivering a safe, high‑quality service for children and young people.
• Has good customer awareness and a desire to continually improve the dining experience.

Requirements

This post is considered as Regulated Work with Vulnerable Children, under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. From 28 February 2011, preferred candidates will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG scheme update check prior to formal offer of employment being made by Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Applicants who have been resident outside the UK within the last 5 years, if offered a position, in addition to a Disclosure Scotland Check, will be required to provide a completed police record check from the police authority in the country or countries in which they were resident.

Benefits of the Role:

With an exciting benefits package, working for Dumfries and Galloway Council supports you to invest in your own health and wellbeing. Employees have access to our bespoke Vivup platform with over 800 discounts on everyday essentials from top UK retailers, restaurants, utility providers and more. Employees also get access to membership of

The Local Government Pension Scheme (Scotland) exclusive discounts from local businesses, a Cycle‑to‑Work scheme, financial support from My Money Matters, and guidance from our trained Wellbeing Champions.

Here at Dumfries and Galloway Council we are committed to equality, diversity and equal opportunity with our values, which include treating everyone with dignity, fairness and respect, driving us to tackle inequality. We are looking for people that can bring different perspectives and experiences and especially welcome applications from those who are underrepresented in our organisation.