At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a kitchen team to create 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 opportunities for training and career growth.
- Other info: Work-life balance with no evenings or weekends, plus monthly team incentives.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in students' lives by promoting healthy eating habits.
- Qualifications: Experience in kitchen management and a passion for cooking required.
The predicted salary is between 25000 - 25000 £ 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.
As a Cook Manager, you'll lead a friendly kitchen team to deliver fresh, seasonal meals to students each day. This is a hands-on management role, where you'll oversee the kitchen, support your team, and ensure smooth service.
- Managing the day-to-day running of the kitchen
- Leading, motivating, and developing your catering team
- Preparing and serving fresh, seasonal meals for the school
- Planning menus, managing stock, and ensuring compliance with food hygiene and safety standards
- Liaising directly with onsite clients and stakeholders
- Ensuring service runs smoothly and efficiently
We're looking for an experienced Cook/Chef Manager with strong leadership skills and a passion for food:
- Previous experience managing a kitchen, ideally in schools or high volume catering environments
- Skilled in preparing fresh, seasonal food
- Strong people management and team leadership skills
- Good organisational and communication skills
- A proactive, hands-on approach with pride in maintaining high standards
- Good understanding of food hygiene and safety regulations
This role offers an excellent work-life balance:
- Daytime hours, no evenings or weekends
- All school holidays off
- Free meal on shift and provided uniform
Plus:
- Opportunities for training, development, and career progression
- Access to free qualifications
- Staff discount scheme across 850+ retailers
- Monthly team incentives, including chances to win shopping vouchers
You’ll also have the chance to help children explore healthy eating and build positive food habits that last a lifetime. IFG is committed to safeguarding 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.
School Kitchen Manager: Lead Fresh, Seasonal Meals Mon-Fri employer: Job Search Place Limited
Impact Food Group (IFG) is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises work-life balance with daytime hours and all school holidays off. Employees benefit from free meals during shifts, opportunities for professional development, and a chance to make a meaningful impact on students' health and wellbeing through fresh, seasonal meals. Join us in creating a positive food environment while enjoying competitive pay and team incentives in a dynamic and rewarding setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land School Kitchen Manager: Lead Fresh, Seasonal Meals Mon-Fri
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the catering and education sectors. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you can, prepare a sample menu or dish that highlights your ability to create fresh, seasonal meals. This hands-on approach can really impress potential employers.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job openings; contact schools directly to express your interest in managing their kitchens. Sometimes, a little initiative goes a long way.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities waiting for passionate Cook Managers like you. Plus, it’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people.
We think you need these skills to ace School Kitchen Manager: Lead Fresh, Seasonal Meals Mon-Fri
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food:When you're writing your application, let your love for cooking and fresh ingredients shine through. We want to see that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about delivering quality meals to students.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills:Make sure to emphasise your experience in managing a kitchen team. We’re looking for someone who can motivate and develop their team, so share examples of how you've successfully led others in the past.
Be Organised and Detail-Oriented:In your application, mention your organisational skills and attention to detail. We need someone who can manage stock, plan menus, and ensure compliance with food hygiene standards, so show us you’ve got this covered!
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 to join our team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Job Search Place Limited
✨Know Your Menu
Before the interview, take some time to research and understand the types of fresh, seasonal meals that Impact Food Group serves. Be ready to discuss your ideas for menu planning and how you can contribute to creating nutritious meals that students will love.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Cook Manager, you'll need to lead a team effectively. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully motivated and developed your team. Highlight your hands-on management style and how you ensure smooth service in a busy kitchen environment.
✨Understand Food Safety Regulations
Brush up on food hygiene and safety standards relevant to school catering. Be prepared to discuss how you maintain high standards in the kitchen and ensure compliance with regulations. This shows your commitment to student wellbeing and safety.
✨Communicate with Confidence
Strong communication skills are key in this role. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Think about how you would liaise with onsite clients and stakeholders, and be ready to share your approach to effective communication within your team.
