Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a kitchen team to prepare fresh, seasonal meals for students every day.
- Company: Join one of England’s fastest-growing school food providers, Impact Food Group.
- Benefits: Enjoy daytime hours, free meals, and ongoing training opportunities.
- Other info: Work-life balance with no evenings or weekends, plus monthly team incentives.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in students' lives while developing your culinary career.
- Qualifications: Experience in kitchen management and a passion for cooking required.
The predicted salary is between 24053 - 24053 £ 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. Our brands include Innovate, Cucina, Chapter One (Independent Schools), Hutchison, and Dolce, reflecting our breadth of experience and reach across the school catering sector.
School Location: St Johns C of E Academy, Wantage, OX12
Working Days: Monday to Friday
Shifts & Working hours: 7.30am-3pm (35 hours per week)
Working Weeks: 39 weeks per year (term time, inset days)
Pay Details: £24,053 Annum
What will I be doing? This is a fantastic opportunity to start at a new-build school, with 2 year groups in and growing each year. Initially catering for around 250 students, you will be an experienced Chef Manager used to working in a small team. As a Chef Manager, you’ll take full responsibility for running the kitchen, serving fresh, seasonal meals to 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 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 not in the business of making school food—we’re here to make great food, and that’s why our customers love us.
What are we looking for? We’re looking for an experienced Chef Manager with a passion for cooking and strong leadership skills.
- Previous experience managing a kitchen, ideally in schools or contract catering environments
- Proven ability to cook fresh, seasonal food to around 250+
- 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.
What’s in it 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
- 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.
Next steps: 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 Manager in Grove employer: Impact Food Group
Contact Detail:
Impact Food Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chef Manager in Grove
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the school and its values! Research St Johns C of E Academy and Impact Food Group. Understanding their mission will help you tailor your approach during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current or former employees on LinkedIn. They can provide insider tips about the kitchen culture and what it’s really like to work there, which can give you an edge in your interview.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your culinary skills! Be prepared for a trade test by practising your cooking techniques. Bring your A-game to demonstrate your ability to whip up fresh, seasonal meals that meet the high standards expected at IFG.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, you’ll have access to all the latest job openings and updates directly from us at StudySmarter.
We think you need these skills to ace Chef Manager in Grove
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food: When writing your application, let your love for cooking shine through! Share your experiences with fresh, seasonal meals and how you’ve made a difference in previous roles. We want to see that you’re not just about the job, but about creating great food for students.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills: As a Chef Manager, you’ll be leading a team, so make sure to showcase your leadership experience. Talk about how you’ve motivated and developed your team in the past. We’re looking for someone who can inspire others, so don’t hold back!
Be Organised and Detail-Oriented: In your application, emphasise your organisational skills and attention to detail. Mention any experience you have with managing stock, budgets, and compliance standards. We need someone who can keep everything running smoothly, so show us you’ve got it covered!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of success. It’s super easy, and you’ll be able to provide all the necessary information in one go. Plus, we love seeing applications come through our own platform!
How to prepare for a job interview at Impact Food Group
✨Know Your Menu
Familiarise yourself with the types of meals you’ll be preparing and serving. Research seasonal ingredients and think about how you can incorporate them into your menu. This shows your passion for cooking and your commitment to providing nutritious meals.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led a team in the past. Think about specific challenges you faced and how you motivated your team to overcome them. This will demonstrate your ability to manage and inspire your catering team effectively.
✨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 knowledge is crucial for maintaining high standards and will impress your interviewers.
✨Build Relationships
Think about how you would approach building strong relationships with onsite clients and stakeholders. Prepare to share your strategies for effective communication and collaboration, as this is key to ensuring smooth service and a positive environment.