At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a high-volume kitchen, serving fresh meals to students daily.
- Company: Join 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 no evenings or weekends, plus 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 30000 - 30000 € 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.
The role is based at The Sittingbourne School, ME10 4NL, with working days from Monday to Friday, shifts from 6:30am to 3:30pm (45 hours per week), and 39 weeks per year (term time, inset days and 3 additional weeks). The pay is £30,000 per annum.
As a Chef, 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
- 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 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 in Sittingbourne employer: Bridgwater Academy Quantock Campus
Impact Food Group (IFG) is an exceptional employer, offering a rewarding work-life balance with daytime hours and all school holidays off, making it ideal for those seeking a fulfilling career in school catering. Employees enjoy free meals on shift, ongoing training and development opportunities, and a supportive work culture that values teamwork and innovation. With a commitment to employee growth and a focus on delivering high-quality meals that positively impact students' lives, IFG stands out as a great place to work.
Contact Detail:
Bridgwater Academy Quantock Campus Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Chef in Sittingbourne
✨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 chef; you’re someone who genuinely cares about making great food for students.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your cooking skills! Since this role involves a trade test, make sure you’re ready to whip up some fresh, seasonal meals under pressure. Maybe even try recreating some school favourites to impress them!
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your leadership chops! Be prepared to discuss how you’ve motivated and developed your team in past roles. They want to see that you can lead a high-volume kitchen with confidence and flair.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Chef in Sittingbourne
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 your enthusiasm for creating fresh, seasonal dishes that students will enjoy!
Highlight Your Leadership Skills:Make sure to emphasise your experience in managing a kitchen and leading a team. We’re looking for someone who can motivate others and maintain high standards, so share examples of how you've done this in the past.
Be Organised and Clear:Keep your application neat and structured. Use clear language and bullet points where necessary to make it easy for us to see your qualifications and experience at a glance.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and get you started on this exciting journey with us at Impact Food Group.
How to prepare for a job interview at Bridgwater Academy Quantock Campus
✨Know Your Menu
Familiarise yourself with the types of meals you’ll be preparing. Research seasonal ingredients and think about how you can incorporate them into your dishes. This shows your passion for fresh food and your understanding of what the role entails.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led a kitchen team in the past. Think about challenges you've faced and how you motivated your team to overcome them. This will demonstrate your ability to manage and inspire others in a high-pressure environment.
✨Understand Compliance Standards
Brush up on food hygiene and safety regulations relevant to school catering. Be ready to discuss how you ensure compliance in your kitchen. This will highlight your commitment to maintaining high standards and keeping students safe.
✨Engage with the Interviewers
During the interview, ask questions about the team dynamics and the school’s approach to nutrition. This not only shows your interest in the role but also helps you gauge if it’s the right fit for you. Building rapport with the interviewers can make a lasting impression.
