Head Chef

Salary: £31,844.80 FTE. Actual Salary £29,456.44

Location: St Bede Academy, with some Trust-wide responsibilities

Contract: 37 Hours a week, 52 weeks a year. 20 days annual leave

Pension: Local Government Pension Scheme

What You’ll Be Doing

You’ll lead the delivery of a high-quality, nutritious catering service at St Bede Academy, ensuring pupils and staff receive meals that are healthy, appealing, and well-prepared.

You’ll also play a key role across the Trust in maintaining safe and compliant allergen processes, working closely with schools and the nursery to ensure consistency and high standards.

Your day-to-day will include:

• Planning, preparing, and cooking meals for breakfast, lunch, and snack service
• Creating nutritious, balanced menus using fresh, seasonal ingredients
• Maintaining all menus and recipes within the Allmanhall catering system
• Working with Headteachers to design menus that reflect each school community
• Supporting the Baby Bede Manager to deliver a nutritious nursery menu
• Leading and supporting Head Cooks and catering teams across the Trust
• Ensuring allergen processes are safe, consistent, and compliant across all sites
• Maintaining high standards of food hygiene, safety, and kitchen cleanliness
• Assisting Head Cooks with stock control and efficient use of resources
• Working to increase school meal uptake through menu design and engagement
• Gathering feedback from pupils and staff to improve the catering offer

What We’re Looking For

We’re seeking a passionate and experienced chef who takes pride in delivering high-quality food and leading a team within a school environment.

You’ll bring:

• Experience preparing and cooking meals in a high-volume catering setting
• Strong understanding of food hygiene, safety, and allergen management
• Experience of menu planning and delivering nutritious, balanced meals
• The ability to lead, support, and develop catering teams
• Good organisational and communication skills
• A collaborative approach when working with school leaders and staff
• A commitment to promoting healthy eating and increasing meal uptake
• The ability to maintain accurate records and follow compliance processes

Desirable:

• Experience working in a school, nursery, or Multi-Academy Trust
• Experience using the Allmanhall catering system (or similar)
• Level 3 Food Hygiene qualification
• Experience managing allergen processes across multiple sites
• Understanding of School Food Standards and early years nutrition

Why Join Us

• A supportive and collaborative working environment
• Opportunities for professional development and certification
• The chance to shape catering across a growing Multi-Academy Trust
• Flexible working and autonomy to make a real impact

Our Academy Trust is committed to improving the life chances of all children through education and personal development. Each child is unique. We encourage and support every child through their exciting journey within our Trust, equipping them with the skills they need for the future.

Our approach is based on sharing excellence within our Trust, recruiting, training, and retaining the highest calibre of staff who share our vision of enlightening, enriching, empowering and evolving a generation through education.

‘Enlightening, Enriching, Empowering and Evolving generations through education’

We offer a fantastic, supportive place to work along with flexible working opportunities, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, as well as a range of employee wellbeing and support services.

The Trust is committed to safer recruitment practices and pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. This post is subject to an enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects staff and volunteers to share this commitment.