Executive Head Chef — Fresh, High-Volume School Catering in Manchester

As Head Chef with Sodexo, you will oversee a dynamic, high-volume catering operation at Chetham's School of Music, preparing and delivering meals for up to 400 people across multiple service areas. This role goes beyond day-to-day cooking; you’ll play a key part in coordinating large-scale service, supporting events, and ensuring consistency, efficiency, and quality at every sitting. Your leadership will be central to maintaining smooth operations in a busy environment, inspiring your team to perform at their best while delivering exceptional food and service standards. Best of all? Enjoy a great work‑life balance with all bank holidays and public holidays off, including Christmas.

Responsibilities:

• Prepare and present food to the notified standard, ensuring the standard of "fresh food from scratch" is followed.
• Oversee and coordinate all core culinary activities across catering locations to ensure consistency and quality.
• Manage and control service delivery to meet specified performance, quality, and financial targets while maintaining high standards.
• Ensure value for money through effective supply chain management and purchasing practices.
• Build and nurture long‑term client relationships to foster stability and growth.
• Recruit, induct and develop talented employees within the kitchen and, if necessary, firmly and fairly manage poor performance.
• Identify opportunities for organic growth and new business development within the catering operation.
• Ensure compliance with food hygiene, health, safety, and environmental legislation using Sodexo's safety systems.
• Drive continuous improvement and innovation to meet the expectations of school and catering management.
• Provide strategic and technical support, offering professional advice to clients, colleagues, and the team.
• Plan, cost, and implement menus using the DRIVe planning tool, ensuring variety, seasonality, innovation, and financial robustness.
• Champion the Fresh Food Standards ensuring Chetham's is the unrivalled site for schools to see and shows off the very best to prospect accounts and visitors alike.
• Be an active (site based) member of the Chef Development team for Independents by Sodexo by contributing dishes and recipes, attending meetings, assisting with projects.
• Engage with key client groups – "Walk the Floor" during service periods and engage and interact with clients, colleagues, and any visitors.
• Attend pupil food committee meetings each half term.
• Represent Sodexo at industry events.

Qualifications:

• Experienced Chef who has operated in a busy high volume contract catering, client facing environment.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to be an effective team player.
• Flexible, with the ability to work under pressure and across a range of shifts and service times.
• Direct management experience of chefs / kitchen brigade.
• Clear, strong and effective leadership style.
• Strong ability to increase individuals' effectiveness through leadership, motivation, communication, coaching and training.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills.
• Ability to set and maintain standards.
• NVQ level 2 Food Production certificate or equivalent.
• Intermediate Food Hygiene certificate.
• Strong level of literacy and numeracy.

Desirable:

• Ability to review problems analytically, develop opportunities and implement innovative solutions / approaches.
• PC literate.
• Advanced Food Safety or Health and Safety qualification.

Salary and Working Conditions:

• Salary: £40,000 per annum.
• Hours: 40 hours per week.
• Working Pattern: 5 out of 7 days [6.30am – 2.30pm or/and 11am – 7pm (FLEXIBLE)].
• Every 3rd weekend off, no late finishes.
• Staff workplace meals provided.
• Flexible working arrangements with potential progression within Sodexo.
• Competitive salary and benefits.
• Full training and protective uniform provided.
• No unsociable hours and public holidays off (including Christmas!).
• Unlimited access to mental health and wellbeing support.
• Employee Assistance Programme for legal, financial, and personal support.
• Discounts, cashback schemes, and financial benefits.
• Career progression, learning opportunities, and apprenticeships.
• Cycle to Work Scheme and volunteering opportunities.

Important Information:

Sodexo and our clients are committed to safeguarding children. All roles require pre-employment screening, including DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) and past employer checks. Sodexo reserves the right to close this advert early if we receive a high number of applications.

At Sodexo, we believe everyone deserves a place to belong. This isn't just a job‑it's a chance to be part of something bigger. If you're ready to lead with passion and cook with purpose, we want to hear from you!