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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a busy kitchen, create delicious menus, and inspire your team.
- Company: Join Sodexo at Edinburgh Academy, where work-life balance is a priority.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, Christmas & New Year off, and a supportive environment.
- Other info: Flexible hours with opportunities for career growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a role that values creativity and leadership.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in catering and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 35000 £ per year.
About the role
Looking for a hospitality role that fits your life not the other way around?
HEAD CHEF Edinburgh Academy Junior School, 10 Arboretum Road, Edinburgh, EH3 5PL
Christmas & New Year Off Every Year & Mainly Monday to Friday hours
Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm
Additional hours: Occasional weekend work for school events as required
Pay: £35,000 per annum
Contract: 52 weeks
Requirements: Enhanced PVG check required; full UK driving licence essential; own vehicle required
Build a Hospitality Career That Works Around You
At Sodexo and Edinburgh Academy, we believe hospitality careers should offer more than long hours and late nights. This role provides a structured working pattern with evenings and most weekends free, alongside time off at Christmas and New Year every year. Join a forward-thinking, supportive environment where you can lead with creativity, deliver exceptional food, and maintain a genuine work-life balance.
The Role
We are seeking an experienced and driven Head Chef to lead catering operations at Edinburgh Academy Junior School. This is an excellent opportunity for a confident leader to take ownership of a busy kitchen, delivering high-quality food and service while inspiring and developing a dedicated team.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead all aspects of kitchen operations, from menu planning to service delivery
- Deliver high-quality catering and hospitality that consistently exceeds expectations
- Champion a fresh food, from-scratch approach across all services
- Maintain the highest standards of food safety, hygiene, and compliance
- Manage budgets effectively, ensuring cost control and efficiency
- Train, mentor, and motivate your team to achieve excellence
- Oversee allergen management and ensure accurate communication at all times
- Plan and deliver hospitality for school events and special functions
About You
- Proven experience in a professional catering environment (essential), ideally in contract or large-scale catering
- Strong leadership experience within a busy kitchen environment
- Confident in managing budgets and using catering systems
- Relevant chef qualifications (NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent)
- Food Safety Level 2 or above
- Excellent organisation and time management skills, with the ability to perform under pressure
- A positive, proactive, and motivated approach
- Flexible, decisive, and able to inspire and lead a team effectively
What We Offer
- Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package
- Structured Monday-Friday working pattern with work-life balance
- Christmas and New Year off every year
- Opportunities for career progression and development
- A supportive, inclusive, and professional working environment
Additional Benefits
- 24/7 virtual GP and mental health support
- Employee Assistance Programme (legal, financial, and personal support)
- Sodexo Discounts Scheme for you, your family, and friends
- Pension scheme
- Learning and development opportunities
- Cycle to Work scheme
Ready to Join Us?
If you're a passionate Head Chef who thrives on leadership, creativity, and delivering outstanding service, we'd love to hear from you.
Safeguarding & Inclusion
Sodexo and The Edinburgh Academy are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. A satisfactory PVG check is required for this role. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Apply today and take the next step in your career with Sodexo at Edinburgh Academy.
Please note: This role may close early if a high volume of applications is received.
Head Chef in Bonnyrigg employer: Sodexo
Contact Detail:
Sodexo Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Chef in Bonnyrigg
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the hospitality industry, especially those who might know about openings at places like Edinburgh Academy. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised!
✨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 what you can bring to the table—literally!
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job postings; reach out directly to places you’re interested in. A quick email expressing your interest and sharing your experience can make a big difference.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining a fantastic team like ours at Sodexo.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Chef in Bonnyrigg
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food: When writing your application, let your love for cooking and creativity shine through. Share specific examples of dishes you've created or events you've catered to show us what makes you tick in the kitchen.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills: As a Head Chef, you'll be leading a team, so make sure to emphasise your leadership experience. Talk about how you've motivated and trained your team in the past, and how you plan to inspire them at Edinburgh Academy.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to see your qualifications and experience. We appreciate clarity and organisation!
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 us during the process.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sodexo
✨Know Your Menu Inside Out
As a Head Chef, you'll need to showcase your culinary expertise. Familiarise yourself with the types of dishes you might be expected to prepare and be ready to discuss your approach to menu planning, especially focusing on fresh, from-scratch cooking.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
This role requires strong leadership, so think about examples from your past where you've successfully led a team. Be prepared to share how you motivate and mentor your staff, as well as how you handle challenges in a busy kitchen environment.
✨Budget Management Know-How
Since managing budgets is key, brush up on your financial skills. Be ready to discuss how you've previously managed costs effectively while maintaining high-quality service. Bring specific examples of how you've achieved efficiency in your kitchen operations.
✨Emphasise Food Safety and Compliance
Food safety is non-negotiable in this role. Make sure you can talk confidently about your experience with food safety standards and allergen management. Highlight any relevant qualifications, like your Food Safety Level 2 or above, to show you're serious about compliance.