At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a kitchen team to prepare delicious, nutritious meals for students.
- Company: Caterlink, a leading education sector catering specialist with over 20 years of experience.
- Benefits: Flexible term-time hours, employee discounts, wellbeing services, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to inclusivity and safeguarding children's welfare.
- Why this job: Make a positive impact on future generations by providing healthy meals in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience cooking for large groups and managing kitchen operations.
The predicted salary is between 24000 - 30000 £ per year.
Caterlink is the education sector catering specialist. For over 20 years, the Company has delivered fresh food solutions to pupils and staff at Primary Schools, Secondary Schools and Colleges across the UK. The company caters more than 1,000,000 meals a week. Our “Fresh Food Policy” is the foundation of our success and growth in the market coupled with a desire to truly deliver on the promises we make to our clients and support our site-based teams.
We are hiring for a Chef Manager at Poplar Primary School, Merton who wants to ensure our future generations are provided with nutritionally balanced and tasty food. This role is working term‑time only and no weekends so is great for those looking for flexibility.
The role:
- 30 hours per week working Monday – Friday
- Term‑time only – working 39 weeks per year
- Pay open to discussion
Your key responsibilities will include:
- To prepare, cook and present food to the standards required by Caterlink and the client
- To ensure that the location meets statutory and company requirements of Health and Safety, Food Safety and environmental legislations and procedures
- To ensure that the company’s reputation for excellent food and service is enhanced with the client and customers and expectations are consistently exceeded
- To be responsible for the day‑to‑day running of the location and supervising teams including managing inventories, monitoring budgets, and implementing action plans
- To be the main point of contact for our client in your school ensuring that regular adjustments and improvements are both recommended and implemented
- Communicating regularly with your line manager to monitor KPIs and financial targets to ensure these are achieved
- Supporting and training our teams, leading from the front to make sure everyone can excel in their role by ensuring all training is completed and performance is managed
Caterlink strives to always provide a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment for all our teams where every individual is treated with respect, integrity and has the opportunity to grow and be treated equally and with fairness at all times. Caterlink is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees to share this commitment. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be obtained for this role.
Qualifications:
- Previous experience of cooking for up to 280 meals per day
Additional Information:
- There are many advantages to working for us including: You have the opportunity of a blended learning programme that can include formal qualifications including apprenticeships, classroom training, eLearning and on the job training to support and encourage your development and enable you to be the best you can be
- We offer you access to our Employee Discount Platform where you can make great savings at supermarkets, cinema, restaurants as well as holiday discounts, family days out and many more!
- You will have full access to our Wellbeing Services including the Employee Assistance Program and Virtual GP benefits which are there for you and your family to use free of charge at any time
- You may be eligible to join our Pension scheme
School Chef Manager: Lead Kitchen, Term-Time 30hrs in London employer: Caterlink Ltd
Caterlink is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work environment where you can thrive as a Chef Manager at Poplar Primary School in Merton. With a focus on employee growth through diverse training programmes and a commitment to work-life balance with term-time hours, you will enjoy the flexibility of no weekend shifts while contributing to the health and wellbeing of future generations. Additionally, our comprehensive benefits, including access to wellbeing services and employee discounts, make Caterlink a rewarding place to build your career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land School Chef Manager: Lead Kitchen, Term-Time 30hrs in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the catering and education sectors. Let them know you're on the lookout for a Chef Manager role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opening at Caterlink or similar companies.
✨Tip Number 2
Get social! Follow Caterlink on social media and engage with their posts. This shows your interest and can help you stay updated on any job openings. Plus, it’s a great way to connect with current employees and learn more about the company culture.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your knowledge of health and safety regulations in food preparation. Caterlink values compliance, so being well-versed in these areas will definitely impress them during your chat.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to go directly through us. Good luck!
We think you need these skills to ace School Chef Manager: Lead Kitchen, Term-Time 30hrs in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food:When writing your application, let your love for cooking and providing nutritious meals shine through. We want to see how you can contribute to our mission of serving tasty food to future generations!
Highlight Relevant Experience:Make sure to mention any previous experience you have in a similar role, especially if you've cooked for large groups. We’re looking for someone who can handle the hustle and bustle of a busy kitchen, so share those stories!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid fluff and focus on what makes you the perfect fit for the Chef Manager role at Poplar Primary School.
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 the ball rolling on your journey with Caterlink.
How to prepare for a job interview at Caterlink Ltd
✨Know Your Ingredients
Familiarise yourself with Caterlink's Fresh Food Policy and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to it. Think about specific examples from your past experience where you've successfully prepared meals that meet high standards, especially for large groups.
✨Health and Safety Savvy
Brush up on health and safety regulations relevant to school kitchens. Be prepared to talk about how you've ensured compliance in previous roles, and share any initiatives you've implemented to enhance food safety and hygiene.
✨Team Leadership Skills
Since this role involves supervising teams, think of examples where you've led a kitchen team effectively. Highlight your approach to training and supporting staff, and how you’ve managed performance to ensure everyone excels in their roles.
✨Client Communication is Key
As the main point of contact for the school, effective communication is crucial. Prepare to discuss how you've built relationships with clients or stakeholders in the past, and how you plan to keep the lines of communication open to ensure expectations are met and exceeded.
