At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a kitchen team to create fresh, seasonal meals for students every day.
- Company: Join one of England’s fastest-growing school food providers, Impact Food Group.
- Benefits: Enjoy daytime hours, all school holidays off, and free meals on shift.
- Other info: Opportunities for training, development, and career progression await you!
- Why this job: Make a real difference in students' lives by promoting healthy eating habits.
- Qualifications: Experience in kitchen management and a passion for preparing fresh food.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ 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.
School Location: Adel Primary School, Leeds, LS16
Working Days: Monday to Friday
Shifts & Working hours: 8am-2pm (30 hours per week)
Working Weeks: 39 weeks per year (term time plus inset days)
What will I be doing?
As a Cook Manager, you’ll lead a friendly kitchen team to deliver fresh, seasonal meals to students each day. This is a hands-on management role, where you’ll oversee the kitchen, support your team, and ensure smooth service. Your responsibilities will include:
- Managing the day-to-day running of the kitchen
- Leading, motivating, and developing your catering team
- Preparing and serving fresh, seasonal meals for the school
- Planning menus, managing stock, and ensuring compliance with food hygiene and safety standards
- Liaising directly with onsite clients and stakeholders
- Ensuring service runs smoothly and efficiently
What are we looking for?
We’re looking for an experienced Cook/Chef Manager with strong leadership skills and a passion for food.
- Previous experience managing a kitchen, ideally in schools or high-volume catering environments
- Skilled in preparing fresh, seasonal food
- Strong people management and team leadership skills
- Good organisational and communication skills
- A proactive, hands-on approach with pride in maintaining high standards
- Good understanding of food hygiene and safety regulations
If you’re enthusiastic about cooking and leading a team to deliver quality food, we want to hear from you.
What’s in it for you?
This role offers an excellent work-life balance:
- Daytime hours, no evenings or weekends
- All school holidays off
- Free meal on shift and provided uniform
Plus:
- Opportunities for training, development, and career progression
- Access to free qualifications
- Monthly team incentives, including chances to win shopping vouchers
You’ll also have the chance to help children explore healthy eating and build positive food habits that last a lifetime. 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.
School Kitchen Manager: Lead Fresh Seasonal Meals in Horsforth employer: Bridgwater Academy Quantock Campus
Impact Food Group (IFG) is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and dynamic work environment at Adel Primary School in Leeds. With a strong focus on employee development, IFG provides opportunities for training and career progression, alongside a fantastic work-life balance with daytime hours and all school holidays off. Join us to make a meaningful impact on students' lives through fresh, seasonal meals while enjoying benefits like free meals on shift and monthly team incentives.
Contact Details:
Bridgwater Academy Quantock Campus Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land School Kitchen Manager: Lead Fresh Seasonal Meals in Horsforth
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the school catering sector or join relevant groups on social media. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its values. Understand what makes Impact Food Group tick, and be ready to share how your passion for fresh, seasonal meals aligns with their mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills during interviews. Be ready to discuss how you've motivated teams in the past and how you plan to lead the kitchen at Adel Primary School. We want to see your hands-on approach in action!
✨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 our team and making a difference in students' lives.
We think you need these skills to ace School Kitchen Manager: Lead Fresh Seasonal Meals in Horsforth
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food:When you're writing your application, let your love for cooking and fresh, seasonal meals shine through. We want to see that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about delivering quality food to students.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills:Make sure to emphasise your experience in managing a kitchen team. We’re looking for someone who can lead and motivate others, so share examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past.
Be Organised and Detailed:In your application, show us that you have a good grasp of food hygiene and safety regulations. Mention any relevant certifications or experiences that demonstrate your organisational skills and attention to detail.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us during the 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 fresh, seasonal meals that Impact Food Group serves. Be ready to discuss your ideas for menu planning and how you can incorporate local ingredients to enhance the students' dining experience.
✨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. This will demonstrate your strong people management skills and proactive approach.
✨Understand Food Safety Regulations
Brush up on food hygiene and safety standards relevant to school catering. Be prepared to discuss how you ensure compliance in your kitchen and how you would train your team to maintain high standards of food safety.
✨Engage with Their Mission
Impact Food Group is all about making great food for students. Show your enthusiasm for their mission by discussing how you can contribute to creating a positive dining experience and help children develop healthy eating habits. This will resonate well with the interviewers.
