Are you looking for a new challenge where you can use your catering skills and management experience to make a real difference to the next generation?  Are you passionate about delivering healthy meals and snacks which power young people to success in their studies and develop a life-long love of food and eating together?  Do you have top level hands-on kitchen skills from working ‘on the tools’ but are also able to lead and manage daily catering operations in a large and vibrant school, with c1400 students and 200 staff?  Can you bring fresh ideas and creativity to our school menus whilst operating within tight budgets?  Will you value the opportunity to work mainly in term time to fit around childcare responsibilities or to enjoy longer holidays?  Will you be a good role model for our students?

If you can answer yes to all of these questions, have you considered making the move to school catering and joining us as our next Catering Manager to lead the fantastic team of our chef and catering assistants to deliver hundreds of quality meals to our students and staff every school day?

What we are looking for

- Strong people manager able to work with and through a varied team to deliver sustained high performance and bring about service improvements and changes

- Previous experience of leading and delivering large scale, cost effective catering operations in schools or a similar environment

- Hands on career experience as a head chef which you can use to support the work of the team and build their craft skills

- Able to build strong and effective relationships with colleagues at all levels and act as a role model to our students

- Able to bring fresh ideas to our service offerings and to engage positively with customer feedback and comments

The King’s Academy is committed to the safeguarding of children and all staff are expected to ensure that the Academy is a safe and secure environment for our students.  A clear, enhanced DBS certificate is required for all staff appointed to roles at the Academy and any offer made will be subject to this being obtained.

 Working hours and pattern, salary and benefits

7am to 3.30pm Monday to Friday

Term Time + 3 Weeks

40 hours per week, 7am to 3.30pm (with a 30 minute break) Monday to Friday during term time plus 3 weeks worked in school holidays.  Scale point 21 to 24.  Actual salary £31,256-33,397pa rising to £31,815-£33,994pa after 5 years’ service (pay award pending).  Additional benefits as set out below:

• ·       Defined benefit pension scheme
• ·       Employee Assistance Programme
• ·       Free parking
• ·       Access to our exclusive Benefits Hub
• ·       Employee centred and family friendly policies and practices that support you in and beyond the workplace
• ·       Enhanced sick pay, maternity leave and paternity leave (dependent on length of service)
• ·       Competitive holiday entitlement for support staff (minimum 25 days, plus bank 8 holidays per annum, pro-rated for part-time post-holders)
• ·       Cycle to work scheme
• ·       Funded eye tests and glasses for DSE users (subject to T/Cs) 

Further information

Background information about The King’s Academy and the work of the catering team and the job description and person specification for the role can be found in the Recruitment section of our website.

If you would like to discuss the role informally prior to application please contact Ms Diane Crossley (HR Officer) (DCrossley@thekingsacademy.org.uk) to make arrangements.

Closing date and recruitment timeline

To be considered for the role please submit a full CV and covering letter to Ms Diane Crossley (HR Officer) (DCrossley@thekingsacademy.org.uk) or complete an online application form (accessible through the Recruitment section of the Academy website) by 9am on Tuesday 22 April 2025.

Please note that if you initially submit a CV and we wish to consider your application further you will be required to complete an application form.

Applications will be screened as they are received.  Early application is therefore advised as we reserve the right to close recruitment to the role early in the event of a high volume of applicants.

We expect to conduct first interviews as applications are received, subject to availability.  The second and final stage of the recruitment process (including a trade test) is provisionally scheduled for the week commencing 5 May.

This is a readvertisement and previous applicants need not reapply.  No agencies.