School Chef

Tradewind Recruitment LTD.; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 18,000; Full time

Job summary

Tradewind Recruitment is seeking an experienced School Chef to lead the primary school kitchen in Sheffield. You will oversee daily operations, ensure nutritious, safe meals and supervise staff within a term-time schedule, Monday to Friday 8:00am-1:30pm.

Ideal candidates have Level 2 Food Safety, school kitchen experience and strong organisational skills, with a passion for children’s meals and food hygiene compliance.

Qualifications

• Food safety and hygiene focus required.
• Experience supervising a busy school kitchen.
• Ability to manage stock, menus and dietary requirements.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operation of the school kitchen.
• Supervise and support kitchen staff.
• Ensure meals meet nutrition and safety standards.
• Coordinate food preparation for ~150+ meals daily.
• Maintain cleanliness and food storage procedures.
• Respond to dietary needs and allergies.

Skills

Food Safety Level 2

Kitchen supervision

Time management

Food hygiene knowledge

Leadership

Nutrition for children

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Food Preparation and Cooking

City & Guilds 706/2

Job description

School Chef - Primary School

Location: Sheffield

Recruitment Agency: Tradewind Recruitment

Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00am - 1:30pm

Contract: Term time only

Are you an experienced School Chef looking for your next opportunity?

Tradewind Recruitment is seeking an experienced and enthusiastic School Chef to work within a primary school in Sheffield. This is a fantastic opportunity for a skilled catering professional who is passionate about preparing nutritious, high-quality meals for children in an education setting.

Working Monday to Friday, from 8:00am until 1:30pm, during term time only, this role offers a great opportunity to enjoy a consistent weekday schedule while making a positive difference to pupils' school experience.

The Role

As School Chef, you will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day running of the school kitchen, ensuring that meals are prepared and served to a high standard. You will play a key role in maintaining food safety, kitchen hygiene and efficient catering operations.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Supervising the preparation and service of over 150 meals per day.
• Preparing and cooking nutritious, balanced and appealing meals suitable for primary school children.
• Ensuring compliance with food hygiene, health and safety regulations.
• Maintaining high standards of cleanliness and food storage throughout the kitchen.
• Managing stock levels, food ordering and minimising waste.
• Organising kitchen tasks efficiently to ensure meals are served on time.
• Supporting and supervising kitchen staff to maintain a positive and effective working environment.
• Catering for pupils' dietary requirements and food allergies.

Essential Requirements

To be considered for this role, you must have:

• Food Safety Level 2 qualification or above.
• A minimum of three years' experience supervising a kitchen serving 150+ meals per day, preferably within a school or education setting.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• A sound understanding of food hygiene, health and safety procedures.
• The ability to work independently, lead a kitchen team and maintain high standards under pressure.
• A genuine passion for preparing quality meals for children.

Desirable Qualifications

• City & Guilds 706/2.
• NVQ Level 3 in Food Preparation and Cooking.

Why Apply?

• Monday to Friday working pattern.
• Part-time hours, 8:00am-1:30pm.
• Term-time-only working, offering school holiday breaks.
• The opportunity to make a positive impact on children's daily school experience.
• Support from the team at Tradewind Recruitment throughout the recruitment process.