Catering Manager in Stourbridge

Job introduction

As Chef Manager for Sodexo at Pedmore Church of England Primary School, Hagley Road, Pedmore, Stourbridge, DY9 0RH, you will oversee all aspects of the food and beverage operation, as well as the finances for your school's kitchen.

This role offers a great balance between hands‑on cooking and kitchen management. Half of your time will be spent preparing, cooking and serving high‑quality meals, with the other half dedicated to administration, including ordering, stock control, compliance, food safety documentation and ensuring the smooth day‑to‑day running of the kitchen.

You’ll be responsible for ensuring the food and level of service are of the highest standard, helping to make the school's catering provision one of the best in the region. Your attitude and leadership will influence your team's daily experience, creating a positive, supportive and productive working environment.

What you do

• Prepare and cook nutritious, high‑quality meals for approximately 200 pupils each day, increasing to around 300 covers when supporting hospitality events and special functions.
• Balance hands‑on cooking with the day‑to‑day management of the kitchen, with the role split approximately 50% cooking and 50% administration and kitchen management.
• Manage the replenishment of food and ensure work areas are cleaned and dismantled at the end of service.
• Develop, mentor, train and inspire the kitchen team.
• Manage the entire catering operation, including labour, food and stock costs.
• Control and optimise all budgets within your area of responsibility.
• Ensure consistently high standards of food quality, presentation and customer service for pupils, staff and visitors.
• Create and develop menus in line with Sodexo and client requirements.
• Complete kitchen administration, including ordering, stock control, food safety documentation and compliance records.
• Carry out routine audits to ensure all food hygiene, health and safety standards are maintained.

What you bring

• Experience preparing and cooking fresh, high‑quality meals for approximately 200 covers, with the confidence to cater for up to 500 covers during hospitality events.
• Experience following recipes and maintaining consistent food quality, ideally within a school or similar catering environment.
• Previous supervisory or line management experience.
• Experience working with fresh ingredients and producing meals from scratch.
• A good understanding of food hygiene, allergens and health and safety legislation.
• The ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines in a busy kitchen environment.
• A positive, professional attitude with the ability to lead by example.
• NVQ Level 2 (or equivalent) in Professional Cookery.
• Level 2 Food Safety Certificate.
• At least one year's hands‑on cooking experience. Additional training in Food Hygiene and Health & Safety will be provided.

What we offer

• Unlimited access to an online platform offering mental health and wellbeing support.
• Employee Assistance Programme to help with everyday issues or larger problems where you may need additional support, including legal and financial advice, support with work related issues or personal issues such as bereavement.
• Access to a free health and wellbeing app that provides rewards for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and includes access to a 24hr virtual GP and various other services.
• The Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering great deals 24/7 (also open to friends and family) and/or the prepayment cashback card.
• Money Insights and financial benefits via the Salary Finance Platform.
• Save for your future by becoming a member of the Sodexo Retirement Plan.
• A death in service benefit for colleagues who pass away whilst employed by Sodexo.
• Opportunities to enable colleagues to grow and succeed throughout their career at Sodexo, including a variety of learning and development tools.
• Cycle to Work Scheme to help colleagues to do their bit for the environment whilst keeping fit.
• Volunteering Opportunities to enable all colleagues to help support worthwhile causes in our communities.
• Flexible and dynamic work environment.
• Competitive compensation.
• Full training and full protective uniform supplied.

Pay and working pattern

• £15 per hour
• 37.5 hours per week
• Working pattern: Monday to Friday (7am – 2.30pm)
• Term Time?

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Sodexo and our Clients are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Certain roles will require applicants to undergo screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (UK) and/or Disclosure Scotland (Scotland).

Sodexo reserves the right to close this advert early if we are in receipt of a high number of applications.

Equated pay (sometimes known as spread‑over pay) is a method of paying you for your contracted hours, working weeks and holiday pay spread over 12 months instead of just receiving pay during the months that you work and none during the school closures/non‑working weeks. This means that you get paid equal amounts of pay every month. Further information will be supplied at interview stage.