Chef / Kitchen Manager

About the job

Key information

• 35 hours per week – Permanent – 38 weeks per year
• Monday – Friday 07.30 to 14.30
• Grade 11 Scale Point 23 – Actual salary £26,919
• Starting 2 September 2025

Trust Ethos and Mission statement – Excellence through cultivating character, sharing talents and pursuing excellence.

All members of the team employed by the Academies for Character and Excellence support and promote the Trusts mission and vision and promotes character education which is a values led approach. Our Trust values and ethos enable us to fulfil our mission of transformation through making a positive difference to ourselves, others and the world around us

What will I be doing?

The main purpose of the role is to oversee the preparation of meals, organise food service and the purchase of food; supervision of staff

Key Duties

Operational

• Undertake skilled cooking activities connected to the full range of menu provision, for example meal planning, portion control, special dietary needs.
• Oversee the preparation of healthy, nutritionally balanced menus that meet the government’s national nutritional standards for school lunches.
• Supervise the preparation of ingredients for meals
• Organise and supervise food service this may include transportation of meals
• Present nutritious foods in ways that children will find attractive
• To include an element of hospitality catering for Head Office functions

Maintenance of hygiene

• Ensure that catering practice complies with appropriate health and safety legislation.

Administration

• Supervise the purchase and storage of food to ensure compliance with stator Requirements.
• Have good financial knowledge to manage incoming invoices and account budgeting.
• Computer literacy, to have working knowledge of Microsoft Teams, calendar and email

Resources

• Actively promote the school meals service to pupils and parents to increase awareness of healthy eating and the uptake of school meals.
• Ordering and recording of all ingredients used and stock taking.
• Create and maintain a purposeful, orderly and productive working environment
• Maintain records as requested
• Plan menus, following guidelines on nutrition and healthy eating
• Ensure availability to staff of equipment and supplies
• Monitor and manage supplies within an agreed budget, cataloguing and undertaking audits as required.
• Refill and replace consumables
• Report faulty equipment and other maintenance requirements to an appropriate person
• Maintain the security of the school premise by securing entrances/exits as appropriate and reporting potential security breaches.
• Ensure security of the school kitchen including freezers and stock cupboards etc
• Ensure lights and other equipment are switched off as appropriate
• Supervision and direction of other staff including allocation of duties and work rotas.

What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?

We are looking to recruit a dynamic Chef/Kitchen Manager to join us in September 2025 at our new purpose built kitchen at Holy Trinity C of E Primary School. You will be part of and managing an incredible team and be responsible for the day to day catering operations, providing a lunchtime hot meal service to the pupils and staff as well as providing and coordinating the delivery of 320 meals for 5 other schools.

We are looking for a dedicated, professional and personable individual with a can-do attitude. You must have previous experience of working in catering and have a good knowledge of food hygiene and preparation. A Level 2 award in Food Safety in Catering qualification or equivalent will be required for the role.

DBS check

An enhanced DBS clearance is required for this post.

Supporting documents and information

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

To arrange a school/ kitchen visit please contact Stacey Szender at stacey.szender@acexcellence.co.uk Or call on 07955 364263.

An application and equal opportunities form is available to download from our website or you can email our HR Advisor andrea.johnson@acexcellence.co.uk

Applications must be completed and emailed to recruitment@acexcellence.co.uk The closing date for applications is 9am on Friday 18 July 2025. Interviews will be held the week commencing Monday 21 July 2025.

Apply now