Chef Manager in Biggleswade

Location: Shuttleworth College – Old Warden Campus, Biggleswade.

Salary: £34,420 – £37,900 per annum (Pro‑Rata) – based on Department of Education and qualifications. Benefits include a People’s pension, Retail and Leisure Discounts, professional development opportunities, and access to college courses.

Hours/Weeks: 37 hours per week – 40 weeks per year.

Contract: Permanent – Term Time.

Right to Work: UK only. No sponsorship available.

About The Role

The Chef Manager will lead kitchen operations within the Leisure, Catering and Events Services department at The Bedford College Group.

• Kitchen Leadership & Operations – Support the Catering & Events Manager in leading day‑to‑day kitchen operations, planning production schedules, managing rotas, overseeing stock control, and ensuring efficient food service delivery.
• Food Production & Menu Management – Prepare, cook and present food to a high standard, develop menus aligned to food‑cost targets and industry trends, and ensure excellent quality, consistency and customer satisfaction.
• Team Development & Customer Experience – Manage, mentor and develop kitchen staff, promote a positive team culture, support training activities, resolve customer issues and deliver an exceptional dining experience.
• Cost Control & Compliance – Monitor food costs through purchasing, portion control, waste management and stock control, maintain accurate records and adhere to HACCP procedures.
• Health, Safety & Professional Standards – Ensure compliance with food hygiene, health & safety, fire, safeguarding, EDI, and training requirements, maintaining a safe, clean and professional kitchen environment.

About You

• Qualifications & Industry Experience – Level 2 catering qualification (or equivalent experience), Level 2 Food Hygiene certification, GCSE English and Maths (or equivalent), with extensive supervisory experience in large‑scale catering operations.
• Culinary, Financial & Commercial Skills – Expertise in food production, flavour development, menu planning, food costing, budgeting, stock control, cash handling and awareness of hospitality industry trends and best practice.
• Leadership & Team Management – Proven ability to lead, motivate, train and performance‑manage teams, fostering a positive and supportive environment while consistently achieving operational targets.
• Organisation, Communication & Customer Focus – Excellent organisational, planning, IT and communication skills, with the ability to work under pressure, maintain high standards and deliver an outstanding customer experience.
• Professionalism & Compliance – Proactive, reliable and flexible, with a commitment to safeguarding, equality and diversity, health & safety, continuous professional development and maintaining the organisation’s reputation and professional standards.

Our Values

• Valuing Teamwork – We are one team who, by working together, can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
• Improving Continuously – We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
• Student Centred – At our heart is always doing what is best for our students; we consider students in all our decision‑making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
• Inclusive – We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
• Open and Caring – We care about the welfare of staff, students, the community and wider society, creating an environment built on trust where we listen, engage with and support each other.
• Nurturing Education Excellence – We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.

Successful candidates must also demonstrate alignment to our organisational VALUES.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The Bedford College Group’s policy on employment of ex‑offenders is attached to this vacancy. Candidates who are barred from working with children are reminded that it is a criminal offence to apply for this post.