At a Glance
- Tasks: Prepare and cook delicious meals while leading a dynamic kitchen team.
- Company: Join Sodexo, a diverse and inclusive employer with a commitment to quality.
- Benefits: Enjoy wellbeing support, discounts, a pension plan, and learning opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible hours with a focus on sustainability and customer satisfaction.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a fast-paced environment and share your passion for food.
- Qualifications: NVQ Level 2/3 in Catering and experience in a kitchen setting required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
Location: Belfast Road, Newtownards, Co. Down
Employment Details:
- Full time | Permanent
- £14.50 per hour
- 35 – 37.5 hours per week
- Monday – Friday
- Working Hours: 7:00 am – 2:30 pm (available to cover Breakfast shift at 6:30 am during annual leave; shift pattern may vary)
Responsibilities:
- Prepare and cook high‑quality breakfast, lunch, hospitality, and bakery items following menus, recipes, and portion guidelines.
- Deliver excellent service in an open‑kitchen environment, engaging with customers professionally and politely.
- Maintain full compliance with food safety, allergen, COSHH, HACCP, and health & safety regulations.
- Lead, motivate and support the kitchen team, supervising daily operations and managing the unit in the Business Manager’s absence.
- Ensure all cleaning schedules, hygiene standards, and statutory procedures are consistently followed.
- Manage stock control, ordering, deliveries and storage, minimising waste and supporting sustainability targets.
- Assist with menu planning, recipe development and continuous improvement of food quality.
- Carry out cash‑handling duties, including closing down tills and safe responsibility, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
Qualifications & Experience:
- NVQ Level 2/3 in Catering (or equivalent) and 2–3 years’ experience in a catering or kitchen environment (essential).
- Supervisory Level 3 Food Safety and Health & Safety qualification (desirable).
- Strong baking and general cooking skills with a genuine passion for food and quality service.
- Experience supervising staff and maintaining high operational standards.
- Excellent understanding of allergen control, HACCP, COSHH and safe food‑handling practices.
- Good IT skills for stock management, temperature recording and site documentation.
- Strong communication skills with a customer‑focused approach.
- Reliability, professionalism and the ability to work calmly and effectively in a fast‑paced environment.
Benefits:
- Unlimited access to an online platform offering wellbeing support.
- Employee Assistance Programme, including legal and financial advice.
- 24‑hour virtual GP Service.
- Sodexo Discounts Scheme with deals across retailers.
- Pension Plan.
- Learning and development tools.
- Bike to Work Scheme.
- Enhanced benefits and leave policies for Sodexo UK & Ireland.
Inclusive Employer:
Sodexo is an inclusive employer committed to diversity and equal opportunity. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and abilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader and offer a Disability Confident interview scheme. Sodexo reserves the right to close this advert early if we receive a high number of applications.
Chef in Newtownards employer: Sodexo
Contact Detail:
Sodexo Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chef in Newtownards
✨Tip Number 1
Get your chef skills on display! If you can, whip up a signature dish and take some photos. Share them on social media or bring them to your interview. It shows your passion for food and gives you a chance to stand out!
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Chat with fellow chefs, join local culinary groups, or attend food festivals. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or be able to recommend you directly.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your interview skills! Prepare answers for common questions about your cooking style, experience with food safety, and how you handle kitchen pressure. We can help you with mock interviews to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and eager to join our team. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace Chef in Newtownards
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Skills: When you're writing your application, make sure to highlight your cooking skills and experience. We want to see how you've prepared and cooked high-quality meals in the past, so don’t hold back!
Be Personable: Since you'll be engaging with customers, let your personality shine through in your application. We love a friendly vibe, so share any experiences where you’ve provided excellent service or interacted positively with customers.
Keep It Clean: Mention your knowledge of food safety and hygiene standards. We take these regulations seriously, so showing that you understand allergen control and safe food-handling practices will definitely catch our eye.
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’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sodexo
✨Know Your Menu
Familiarise yourself with the menus and recipes that the company uses. Being able to discuss specific dishes and your approach to preparing them will show your passion for food and your readiness for the role.
✨Showcase Your Skills
Prepare to demonstrate your cooking skills during the interview, if possible. Bring examples of your previous work or be ready to discuss your experience with high-quality food preparation and baking techniques.
✨Understand Food Safety Regulations
Brush up on your knowledge of food safety, allergen control, and HACCP regulations. Be prepared to discuss how you ensure compliance in a kitchen environment, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Engage with Customer Service
Since the role involves interacting with customers, think of examples where you've provided excellent service. Highlight your communication skills and how you handle feedback or complaints in a professional manner.