Catering Manager in Manchester

Nell Lane, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M21 7SL

Pay:

Meets national minimum wage

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hours:

Full time

Disability Confident:

No

Closing Date:

20/09/2026

About this job

What skills and experience we're looking for We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Catering Manager to join our fantastic team at Chorlton High School This is a permanent post working
37.5 hours per week, Monday

• Friday, 6:30am - 2:30pm, term time only plus 5 INSET days.

The starting salary is£27,668 per annum (full-time equivalent£30,023,Grade 5) We're looking for: An experienced and confident people leader to manage one of the Trust's largest school catering operations.

This role is about much more than delivering excellent food.

You will lead and inspire a busy kitchen team of approximately20 catering staff, ensuring high standards of service, performance and compliance while creating a positive and collaborative working environment.

The successful candidate will have substantial experience of managing staff in a fast-paced catering environment and be able to demonstrate excellent leadership, communication and organisational skills.

You will be comfortable motivating others, managing performance, supporting staff development and dealing confidently with attendance, recruitment and day-to-day people management matters.

Alongside your leadership responsibilities, you will oversee the daily operation of the school kitchen, ensuring that high standards of food quality, hygiene and customer service are consistently maintained.

You will hold, or be working towards, NVQ Level 2 in Food Preparation and Cooking (or equivalent)and possess a sound understanding of food safety legislation, allergen management and health and safety requirements.

As an integral part of the role, you will also be responsible for financial administration and must be confident using IT systems.

You should have good working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and experience of maintaining accurate electronic records, completing payroll returns and producing financial and operational reports.

A strong customer focus is essential.

We are looking for someone who is approachable, professional and able to communicate effectively with colleagues, students, senior leaders and external partners.

Main purpose of the job Reporting to the Head of Catering and working closely with school leaders and colleagues across the Trust, you will be responsible for the safe, effective and efficient operation of all aspects of the catering service.

You will have full line management responsibility for the catering team, ensuring high standards of performance, compliance and customer service while promoting an inclusive and supportive culture.

Key responsibilities:

Lead, manage and develop a catering team of approximately 20 staff, including recruitment, induction, training, attendance management and performance management.

Deliver a high-quality, cost-effective catering service in line with Service Level Agreements, contractual requirements and relevant legislation.

Ensure compliance with food hygiene, health and safety and COSHH regulations at all times.

Follow pre-planned menus to meet nutritional standards, legislative requirements and customer needs.

Complete cash reconciliation, payroll returns and financial administration in accordance with Trust procedures.

Maintain accurate electronic records and use Microsoft Office systems confidently to support operational and administrative requirements.

Drive excellent customer service across the catering provision and respond professionally to the needs of the school community.

Support service development by participating in new initiatives, menu trials and continuous improvement activities.

Applicants must have:

NVQ Level 2 in Food Preparation and Cooking (or be working towards the qualification).

Significant operational experience within a professional catering environment.

Proven experience of leading and managing a large team, with the ability to motivate, develop and hold staff accountable.

Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to build positive relationships at all levels.

Good IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office and experience of maintaining electronic records and completing administrative returns.

Strong understanding of food safety legislation, allergen management and health and safety requirements.

The ability to work under pressure, prioritise competing demands and manage a busy catering operation effectively.

To find out more about the full responsibilities of the role and/or to ensure you meet the essential criteria, please refer to the attached job description and person specification.

Interviews are scheduled shortly after the job closing.

All school staff are expected to share the Trust’s commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Specific safeguarding responsibilities are detailed in the attached job description.

What the school offers its staff Working for Prospere Learning Trust Great schools thrive because of the great people in them.We invest in our staff to achieve their full potential and offer a range of benefits including.

• High quality CPD for all roles
• Bupa Level 1 Health Plan- annual cash back allowance for a range of every day health care expenses
• Generous Pension Contribution- over 26% for teachers and 15% for support staff
• Good holidays –teachers as per School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document; non-teachers receive 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing to 31 days with 5 years' service
• save up to 39% on a bike and accessories and get Strava for free
• Employee Assistance Programmes
• including access to free counselling and 24/7 helplines
• Credit Union- regular savings, Christmas saving scheme and access to affordable loans
• Flexible working options- we're happy to talk flexible working where possible
• Mental Health First Aid in every school
• Blue Light Card- discounts on holidays, cars, days out, fashion, gifts, insurance, phones, and many more
• bYond cashback card- spend smarter with a prepaid cashback card for your everyday purchases Visit our website to learn more about our Trust:prospere.org.uk Further details about the role Chorlton High School Chorlton High School (CHS) is a diverse and innovative secondary academy committed to providing outstanding education.

We are a mixed, multi-cultural, and multi-faith community with strong links to local primary schools, sixth form providers, further education colleges, and businesses.

Our students thrive on an exciting learning journey underpinned by academic rigour and creative flair.

Driven by our core values, our dedicated staff ensure creativity, happiness, and success are central to every student’s experience.

SUCCESSFUL learnerswith foundations for lifelong success.

CREATIVE learnerswho are imaginative risk-takers.

HAPPY learnerswhose confidence comes from within.

CHS is recognised locally and nationally for educational excellence.

Our ambitious and cutting-edge practices provide exemplary learning opportunities.

Our Ofsted reports (2011, 2016, 2021) highlight many ‘Outstanding’ features and our focus on nurturing and inspiring students; ‘Pupils enjoy coming to school because it is a caring and supportive environment where they flourish.’ ‘Leaders and teachers collaborate across the Prospere Learning Trust to bring about purposeful, evidence-based change.' Ofsted 2021 Visit our website to learn more:Chorlton High School.

As per Keeping Children Safe in Education, we conduct online searches on shortlisted candidates to identify any relevant issues for interview discussion.

Shortlisted candidates will be required to submit a self-disclosure declaration, declaring any relevant convictions, adult cautions or other matters which may affect your suitability to work with children.

Information will be provided on where to seek guidance on whether certain offences are now protected and should not be disclosed within the self-disclosure form.

Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 all positions within the School are exempt.

Therefore, we are entitled to carry out Enhanced Disclosure checks for all staff and volunteers.

It is an offence to apply for the role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relating to children.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK; we do not sponsor visa applications.

If you’ve lived or worked outside the UK in the last five years, additional information will be required.

Job offers are contingent on satisfactory pre-employment checks, including references.

Safeguarding Commitment All schools within the Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.

Equality Statement Prospere Learning Trust values diversity and welcomes applications from all candidates, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital status, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.

We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.