Chef Manager

Location: Shuttleworth College - Old Warden Campus

Salary / Benefits: Salary is between £27,300 and £28,999 per annum DOE and Qualifications, 27 days annual leave plus Bank holidays, People's pension, Retail and Leisure Discounts, excellent professional and personal development opportunities, accessing college courses.

Hours / Weeks: 37 hours per week – 52 weeks per year

Contract Type: Permanent – Full Time

This is a UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. We are unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.

About the role:

• Kitchen Operations & Food Production: Support the Catering Manager in planning menus, production schedules, costings and rotas while preparing, cooking and presenting high-quality food across all outlets.
• Stock, Ordering & Cost Control: Manage stock levels, complete monthly stock takes, handle all kitchen ordering and maintain food cost targets through effective waste, portion and purchasing control.
• Compliance, Hygiene & Safety: Ensure HACCP, due-diligence, cleanliness and statutory food hygiene standards are fully met, while maintaining up-to-date health & safety records and ensuring staff meet required training levels.
• Team Leadership & Customer Experience: Lead and mentor the kitchen team, provide on-the-job training, resolve customer issues, support hospitality requirements and maintain a positive, respectful working culture.
• Service Presence & College Wide Duties: Be visible during service to support staff and engage with customers, attend chef meetings, assist with business development and uphold safeguarding, equality, diversity, inclusion and training responsibilities.

About you:

• Qualifications & Culinary Expertise: Level 2 kitchen/larder vocational training with hygiene certification, strong cooking technique, flavour development skills and creativity in plate and buffet presentation.
• Industry & Leadership Experience: 2+ years recent experience in a large-scale operation, supervisory/line-management experience, team training background and proven ability to deliver high-quality, cost-effective food production.
• Operational & Financial Skills: Experience in food costing, budgeting, purchasing, time and budget management, cash handling and awareness of hospitality market trends and commercial factors.
• Professional Skills & Personal Qualities: Highly organised, detail-focused, commercially aware and capable of working under pressure, with strong IT, communication and planning skills, plus a proactive, creative and enthusiastic approach.
• Values, Safeguarding & Flexibility: Committed to equality, diversity, safeguarding, continuous skill development and maintaining professional boundaries, with flexibility to work across locations and adapt to changing operational needs.

For a more detailed breakdown of the job role and the requirements, please see the Job Description attached to this vacancy.

Interviews to be held: 16 February 2026

Organisational VISION values:

• Valuing Teamwork: We are one team who, by working together, can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
• Improving Continuously: We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
• Student Centred: At our heart is always doing what is best for our students. We consider students in all of our decision making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
• Inclusive: We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
• Open and Caring: We care about the wellbeing of our staff, our students, our community and wider society, creating an environment built on trust where we listen, engage with and support each other.
• Nurturing Education Excellence: We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.

About The Bedford College Group: The Bedford College Group was formed in 2017 following the merger of Bedford College and Tresham College and is now the largest provider of education in the South East Midlands, with over 15,000 students passing through our doors each year. Today, the Group is made up of a family of colleges across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire: Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College and Tresham College in the towns of Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough; Shuttleworth College, a specialist land-based college; The Bedford Sixth Form, the only dedicated sixth form in Bedford; The Corby Sixth Form, opened in September 2023; and the National College for Motorsport alongside Silverstone race circuit.

Safeguarding our Students: The Bedford College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to a thorough vetting process which includes an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.