At a Glance
- Tasks: Create delicious meals for students and lead a passionate kitchen team.
- Company: Olive Dining, a dedicated school catering company focused on fresh, nutritious meals.
- Benefits: Enjoy family-friendly hours, weekends off, free meals, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Join a supportive team culture with opportunities for growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in schools while enjoying work-life balance and creativity.
- Qualifications: Experience in catering management, strong leadership, and great communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Make a difference every day by helping provide healthy, delicious meals to children at school. At Olive Dining, we believe great food brings people together — and there’s no better place to do that than in schools, where young minds are growing every day. We’re a dedicated school catering company serving fresh, nutritious meals to students across London, Kent, Surrey, and Essex. Now we’re on the lookout for a Chef Manager to lead the kitchen. If you’re passionate about food, love working in a team, and thrive in a fast‑paced environment with purpose — this could be the perfect role for you.
Why You'll Love Working With Us
- Family‑Friendly Hours: Term time only, so you can enjoy school holidays too!
- Weekends Off: Yes, really.
- Supportive Team Culture: You're never just a number here.
- Free Meals on Duty: Because chefs should never work hungry.
- Wellbeing First: Access to an Employee Assistance Programme including free CBT, health, and financial support.
- Room to Grow: We believe in promoting from within and helping our people thrive.
Your Day‑to‑Day
- Cook up exciting, balanced meals that keep students happy and energised.
- Lead, train, and inspire your team to deliver top‑notch service every day.
- Keep things running smoothly — from ordering supplies to managing kitchen finances.
- Maintain high standards of food safety, cleanliness, and compliance.
- Gather feedback from students and staff and use it to keep improving.
- Keep a close eye on stock, costs, and quality.
- Report on performance, meet KPIs, and help the site shine in every way.
- Complete any other reasonable requests given by your manager.
What You’ll Need
- A genuine passion for good food and great service.
- Experience in a similar chef or catering manager role.
- Strong leadership and team‑building skills.
- Comfortable with kitchen finances, stock control, and compliance records.
- Great communication skills – with both adults and young people.
- A positive, proactive mindset and a love for working in education settings.
- IT literacy and good organisational skills.
- A sense of humour (trust us, it helps!).
This Role Is Perfect If You
- Want to make a real impact in a school community.
- Enjoy variety and hands‑on leadership.
- Like the idea of work‑life balance that includes school holidays.
- Are ready to bring your ideas, creativity, and energy to the table.
Ready to Join the Olive Team?
If you’re ready to take the next step in your catering career and want to work somewhere that values people, flavour, and fun — we’d love to hear from you. Apply now and bring your passion to the plate!
Chef Manager in Coulsdon employer: Olive Dining Limited
At Olive Dining, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a supportive team culture where every member is valued and encouraged to grow. With family-friendly hours during term time, weekends off, and access to wellbeing resources, we ensure our Chef Managers can thrive both professionally and personally while making a meaningful impact on students' lives through delicious, nutritious meals. Join us in creating a positive school environment where your passion for food and leadership can shine.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Chef Manager in Coulsdon
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the catering and education sectors. Attend local events or workshops where you can meet people who might know about job openings. Remember, sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you can, create a portfolio of your best dishes or even a short video showcasing your cooking techniques. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can bring to their kitchen — literally!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company culture and values. At Olive Dining, they value teamwork and creativity, so think of examples from your past experiences that highlight these traits. Be ready to share how you can contribute to their mission of providing healthy meals to students.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the Olive team. So, get your application in and let’s make a difference together!
We think you need these skills to ace Chef Manager in Coulsdon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food:When writing your application, let your love for food and cooking shine through. Share any experiences that highlight your passion for creating delicious meals, especially in a school setting.
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 inspired and trained others in previous roles, and how you can bring that energy to our kitchen.
Be Organised and Detail-Oriented:We want to see that you can handle kitchen finances and stock control. Include examples of how you've managed budgets or maintained compliance in past positions to show us you're the right fit.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Olive Dining Limited
✨Show Your Passion for Food
Make sure to express your genuine love for cooking and providing nutritious meals. Share specific examples of how you've created exciting dishes in the past, especially in a school or similar environment.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Prepare to discuss your experience in leading a team. Think of instances where you inspired your colleagues or improved team dynamics. Highlight your ability to train and motivate others, as this is crucial for the Chef Manager role.
✨Know Your Numbers
Brush up on kitchen finances, stock control, and compliance records. Be ready to talk about how you've managed budgets or reduced costs while maintaining quality. This will show that you're not just a creative chef but also a savvy manager.
✨Engage with the Interviewers
Remember, interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions about the company culture, team dynamics, and how they gather feedback from students. This shows your interest in making a real impact and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.
