Chef Manager - Ipswich Area

Chef Manager at ASSET Education - Ipswich Area

Are you an experienced and passionate Chef looking for a hands‑on role to make a real difference? We have a fantastic opportunity for a Chef Manager.

Location: ASSET Education - Ipswich Area

Reports To: Catering Manager

Contract Type: Part‑time, Permanent (Term‑time only plus INSET days)

Salary: £14.13 per hour - £27,254 full time equivalent

Hours: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday 7:30 AM - 2:30 PM 39 weeks per year

About ASSET Education

ASSET is an Education Trust comprising 16 primary schools in and around Ipswich and north‑East Suffolk. We have an ambitious, future‑facing vision to equip and empower our young people to create a more compassionate, equitable and sustainable world where they personally and collectively thrive. Our tagline is “Nurturing Humanityˮ. We want to apply these deeply held commitments of nurturing and sustainability by providing a food education that benefits childrenʼs health and wellbeing, and minimises the impact on the planet - both in terms of what children eat whilst at school, and the food choices they make as adults.

Our goals are to:

• Improve Food Quality: Offer fresh, wholesome meals made with high-quality ingredients.
• Enhance Nutritional Value: Meet or exceed dietary guidelines for children.
• Increase Sustainability: Prioritise local, seasonal produce, reduce food waste, and minimise environmental impact.
• Boost Student Satisfaction: Offer diverse, appealing menus that cater to various dietary needs and preferences.
• Achieve Cost Efficiency: Optimise operations to ensure cost-effectiveness without compromising quality.

The Role: We are seeking an experienced, passionate, and highly organised Chef Manager to lead our school kitchen. The successful candidate will be responsible for the efficient and effective management of the school kitchen , ensuring the provision of fresh high-quality, nutritious, and appealing meals for our children and staff, in line with nutritional guidelines and budgetary requirements. This role requires a strong focus on food safety, hygiene, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Kitchen Management & Operations - Oversee the daily operation of the school kitchen, including meal preparation, cooking, and service for breakfast clubs, lunch, and after‑school activities as required.
• Food Safety & Hygiene - Ensure strict adherence to all food safety regulations, including HACCP principles, COSHH, and Natasha's Law. Maintain the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene in the kitchen and dining areas.
• Team Leadership & Management - Support the recruitment, training and supervision of a team of catering staff.
• Financial Management - Monitor expenditure and identify cost‑saving opportunities without compromising quality. Process invoices and manage financial records accurately.
• Customer Service & Communication - Liaise effectively with the School Business Manager, Headteacher, staff, pupils, and parents regarding catering services, menu planning, and dietary requirements.
• Health & Safety - Ensure compliance with all relevant Health & Safety legislation.

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Proven experience as a Chef Manager, Head Chef, or similar role in a large-scale catering environment, ideally within an education or public sector setting.
• NVQ Level 2 in Professional Cookery or equivalent qualification.
• Intermediate Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 3 or higher). Training will be provided
• Strong understanding of School Food Standards and nutritional guidelines for children.
• Knowledge of HACCP, COSHH, and all relevant food safety and hygiene regulations. Training will be provided.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate, and manage a catering team.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple tasks effectively.
• Proficient in basic IT skills (e.g., email, spreadsheets for stock management).

Desirable Skills and Experience:

• Experience with catering software systems.
• Allergen awareness training.
• First Aid qualification.

What We Offer:

• A supportive and friendly school environment.
• The opportunity to make a real difference to the health and well‑being of our pupils.
• Access to professional development opportunities.
• A competitive salary and benefits package.
• Generous holiday entitlement during school breaks.
• Local Government Pension Scheme

Safeguarding Statement: ASSET Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references, and other pre‑employment checks.

ASSET Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

The successful candidate will have to meet the requirements of the job description and will be subject to pre‑employment checks including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and children's barred list check, health check, online search and satisfactory references. Copies of our safeguarding and safer recruitment policies are available on request.