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 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 London 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 a vibrant environment that celebrates creativity and teamwork, all while enjoying the unique advantage of working within the educational sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Chef Manager in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the catering and education sectors. Attend local food 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, organise a small cooking demo or a tasting session for potential employers. This gives them a taste of your culinary creativity and leadership style. Plus, it’s a great way to make a memorable impression!
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job postings to pop up. Reach out directly to schools or catering companies you admire, like Olive Dining. Express your passion for food and education, and let them know you’re keen to join their team.
✨Tip Number 4
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 showcase these traits. And don’t forget to bring your sense of humour — it’s a key ingredient!
We think you need these skills to ace Chef Manager in London
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. We want to see how you can bring joy to students through your culinary skills!
Highlight Your Leadership Skills:As a Chef Manager, you'll be leading a team, so make sure to showcase your leadership experience in your application. Talk about times you've inspired or trained others, and how you’ve kept things running smoothly in a busy kitchen. We’re all about teamwork here at Olive Dining!
Be Organised and Detail-Oriented:Mention your experience with kitchen finances, stock control, and compliance records. We appreciate candidates who are organised and can keep track of everything from supplies to safety standards. Show us how you can keep our kitchen in tip-top shape!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. Make sure your application is tailored to the role and reflects your personality. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
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 setting. This will show that you align with Olive Dining's mission.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Prepare to discuss your experience in leading a kitchen team. Think of instances where you've inspired your team or improved service quality. Highlight your ability to train others and maintain a positive team culture, as this is crucial for the Chef Manager role.
✨Know Your Numbers
Brush up on your kitchen finances and stock control knowledge. Be ready to talk about how you've managed budgets and ensured compliance in previous roles. This will demonstrate your capability to keep the kitchen running smoothly and efficiently.
✨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 the role and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.
