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- Tasks: Create exciting school menus and inspire catering teams to deliver amazing meals for children.
- Company: Centurion Staunch Innovative Solutions Ltd, a leader in innovative school catering.
- Benefits: Competitive pay at £20.75 per hour and the chance to make a real difference.
- Why this job: Join us to shape the future of school meals and support healthy eating for kids.
- Qualifications: Experience in school or large-scale catering and strong training skills required.
- Other info: Opportunity to work across multiple schools and develop your culinary career.
The predicted salary is between 43000 - 60000 £ per year.
This is not a standard development chef role. We are looking for an innovative, practical and collaborative School Menu Development Chef to inspire and develop school catering teams and deliver outstanding meals for children. You will design fresh, seasonal menus (updated twice per year), ensure compliance with School Food Standards and Food for Life criteria, deliver audits and improvement recommendations, run taster sessions and demonstrations at schools, and support/upskill school cooks in producing high-quality, cost-effective meals at scale. This role supports large-scale catering operations serving millions of meals annually and requires a mix of menu development, practical recipe scaling, training and hands-on kitchen support.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and implement fresh, seasonal school menus that meet School Food Standards and Food for Life criteria (menus changed twice yearly).
- Translate small-scale recipes into large-scale recipes (e.g., scaling to serve up to 200+).
- Inspire, train and upskill school cooks and catering teams through coaching, demonstrations and on-site support.
- Carry out kitchen audits, identify opportunities for improvement and provide clear, practical recommendations.
- Promote the school meal offer through taster sessions, food demonstrations and school events.
- Ensure strict allergen management and food safety/compliance in all menus and procedures.
- Support continuous improvement across school and commercial catering operations (portion control, cost management, consistency).
- Travel between the central kitchen and schools to provide on-site support as required.
Requirements Person Specification — Ideal Candidate
- Proven experience in school catering or substantial experience in large-scale/public sector catering environments.
- Awareness and working knowledge of School Food Standards and government guidance for school meals.
- Strong understanding of allergen compliance and management in a school setting.
- Demonstrable ability to scale recipes and produce consistent high-quality output at volume.
- Confident trainer/coach — experience delivering practical training and demonstrations to kitchen teams.
- Good written and verbal communication skills; able to engage pupils, staff and parents at events.
- Full UK driving licence and ability to travel between sites.
- Experience working with Food for Life or similar quality food accreditation.
- Prior experience developing special dietary menus (e.g., dairy-free, allergen-specific menus).
- Previous experience working across multiple school sites or local-authority catering services.
Practical Details / Clarifications
- Geography: Role supports up to 52 schools across the council area and 2 schools in Derby.
- School visits per week: Variable — dependent on school needs (could be 1 site or multiple); the majority of development work will be at the head office/central kitchen.
- Contract duration: Current assignment runs until end of March (fixed-term).
- Menu creation frequency: Menus are created/updated twice per year. There is also periodic work for bespoke special-diet menus (e.g., allergy-specific).
- Mandatory requirements: None additional specified at this stage.
- Rate: £20.75 per hour (umbrella) — rate is fixed and non-negotiable.
How to Apply
Please send a CV highlighting your school/large-scale catering experience and examples of menu development or training delivered to: Whether you are already enrolled on the client’s supply chain (please indicate enrolment status), or if you are a new supplier. Your availability and confirmation you can work full-time to end of March. Confirmation you can travel between sites and hold a valid driving licence.
Privacy Assurance
All personal information provided during the recruitment process will be handled securely and processed in accordance with GDPR. Data will be used only for recruitment, onboarding and compliance purposes and will not be shared outside authorised channels.
Development Chef in Nottingham employer: Centurionstaunch
Contact Detail:
Centurionstaunch Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Development Chef in Nottingham
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Research Centurion Staunch Innovative Solutions Ltd and their approach to school catering. Understanding their values and mission will help you tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for standing out in the interview process. Plus, it’s a great way to get insider info on what they’re really looking for in a Development Chef.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for practical assessments! Since this role involves hands-on kitchen support and training, be ready to showcase your skills. Think about how you can demonstrate your ability to scale recipes and engage with kitchen teams during any practical evaluations.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, you can keep track of your application status and any updates directly from us. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace Development Chef in Nottingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your experience in school catering or large-scale public sector environments. We want to see how you've tackled similar challenges and what innovative solutions you've brought to the table!
Tailor Your CV: Don’t just send a generic CV! Tailor it to reflect your skills in menu development and training. We love seeing specific examples of how you've inspired and upskilled kitchen teams.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate good communication skills, so make sure your written words reflect that. Avoid jargon unless it's relevant!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep everything organised and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at Centurionstaunch
✨Know Your Menus Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you’re familiar with current school food standards and seasonal ingredients. Be ready to discuss how you would design menus that are not only compliant but also appealing to children. Bring examples of your previous menu designs to showcase your creativity!
✨Show Off Your Training Skills
Since this role involves training and upskilling school cooks, prepare to demonstrate your coaching style. Think of a time when you successfully trained a team or improved their skills. Be ready to share specific examples and maybe even a mini demonstration if the opportunity arises!
✨Highlight Your Allergen Management Knowledge
Allergen compliance is crucial in school catering. Brush up on your knowledge of allergen management and be prepared to discuss how you would ensure safety in your menus. You might want to bring along a sample allergen management plan you've created in the past.
✨Be Ready for Practical Questions
Expect practical questions about scaling recipes and managing large-scale operations. Think through how you would approach translating small-scale recipes into those that serve 200+ children. Practise explaining your thought process clearly and confidently!