At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a high-volume kitchen, serving fresh meals to students every day.
- Company: Join Impact Food Group, one of England’s fastest-growing school food providers.
- Benefits: Enjoy daytime hours, free meals, and ongoing training opportunities.
- Other info: Work-life balance with all school holidays off and team incentives.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in students' lives while developing your culinary career.
- Qualifications: Experience in high-volume catering and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 31000 - 31000 € per year.
Impact Food Group (IFG) is one of England’s fastest-growing school food providers, serving around one million students every day across more than 1,500 schools. We are dedicated to delivering high-quality, nutritious meals that support student wellbeing and enjoyment. Our brands include Innovate, Cucina, Chapter One (Independent Schools), Hutchison, and Dolce, reflecting our breadth of experience and reach across the school catering sector.
The role involves maternity cover at Q3 Academy Great Barr, then moving to another IFG site. Working days are Monday to Friday with shifts from 7am to 4pm (45 hours per week) for 42 weeks per year (term time, inset days and 3 additional weeks). The pay details are £31,000 per annum.
As a Chef Manager, you’ll take full responsibility for running a high-volume kitchen, serving fresh, seasonal meals to hundreds of students every day. This is a hands-on, leadership role where you’ll manage your team, maintain high standards, and ensure smooth, efficient service. Your responsibilities will include:
- Leading, motivating, and developing your catering team
- Preparing and serving fresh, seasonal meals at high volume
- Planning menus, managing stock, and controlling budgets
- Ensuring all food hygiene, safety, and compliance standards are met
- Building strong relationships with onsite clients and stakeholders
- Overseeing the smooth running of service, from prep to finish
We’re looking for an experienced Chef Manager with a passion for high-volume catering and strong leadership skills:
- Previous experience managing a kitchen, ideally in schools or high-volume catering environments
- Proven ability to cook fresh, seasonal food at high volumes
- Strong people management and team leadership skills
- Experience managing kitchen operations, stock, and compliance
- Excellent organisational and communication skills
- A proactive, hands-on approach and pride in maintaining high standards
If you thrive in fast-paced environments and enjoy leading teams to deliver great food, this could be the role for you.
We offer a fantastic work-life balance: daytime hours, no evenings or weekends, all school holidays off, free meals on shift and uniform provided. Plus, you’ll benefit from ongoing training, development, and career progression opportunities, access to free qualifications, staff discount scheme across 850+ retailers, and monthly team incentives with the chance to win shopping vouchers.
This is your opportunity to lead a high-volume kitchen, develop your career, and make a real difference in students’ lives.
If you think you’ve got what it takes, we’d love to hear from you! Please note: An interview, trade test and kitchen visit will be required as part of the recruitment process. IFG are committed to the safeguarding of children, and our employees share this commitment. Successful candidates are required to undergo an enhanced DBS disclosure and children’s barred list check, which IFG will pay for. We are a committed equal opportunities employer - if you require any assistance for the interview process, please detail within your application. All information is kept confidential and in compliance with GDPR requirements.
Chef Manager in Birmingham employer: Bridgwater Academy Quantock Campus
Impact Food Group (IFG) is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises work-life balance with daytime hours and all school holidays off. As a Chef Manager, you will have access to ongoing training and career progression opportunities, alongside unique benefits such as free meals on shift and monthly team incentives, making it a rewarding environment for those passionate about delivering high-quality food to students.
Contact Detail:
Bridgwater Academy Quantock Campus Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Chef Manager in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Research Impact Food Group and their values. When you walk into that interview, show them you’re not just another candidate but someone who genuinely cares about their mission of providing great food for students.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your cooking skills! Since this role is all about high-volume catering, be ready to showcase your culinary talents during the trade test. Prepare some seasonal dishes that reflect your style and passion for fresh ingredients.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your leadership chops! Be prepared to discuss how you’ve motivated and developed teams in the past. Share specific examples of how you’ve handled challenges in a kitchen environment to demonstrate your hands-on approach.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the IFG team and making a difference in students’ lives.
We think you need these skills to ace Chef Manager in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food:When writing your application, let your love for cooking and high-quality meals shine through. We want to see that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about making great food for students.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills:Make sure to emphasise your experience in managing teams and running kitchens. We’re all about strong leadership, so share examples of how you've motivated your team and maintained high standards in previous roles.
Be Specific About Your Experience:Don’t just list your past jobs; dive into the details! Talk about your experience with high-volume catering, menu planning, and compliance. We want to know exactly how you’ve handled these responsibilities in the past.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates during the recruitment process!
How to prepare for a job interview at Bridgwater Academy Quantock Campus
✨Know Your Menu
Before the interview, take some time to research and understand the types of meals that Impact Food Group serves. Familiarise yourself with seasonal ingredients and how they can be incorporated into high-volume cooking. This will show your passion for fresh food and your ability to plan menus effectively.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led a kitchen team in the past. Think about specific challenges you faced and how you motivated your team to overcome them. Highlighting your people management skills will demonstrate that you're ready to take on the Chef Manager role.
✨Emphasise Compliance Knowledge
Make sure you’re up to speed on food hygiene and safety standards. Be ready to discuss how you’ve maintained compliance in previous roles. This is crucial in a school environment, so showing that you prioritise safety will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Engage with the Interviewers
During the interview, don’t just answer questions—engage with your interviewers. Ask them about their vision for the kitchen and how you can contribute. This shows your enthusiasm for the role and your willingness to collaborate with the team.
