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- Tasks: Inspire a team to create delicious, nutritious meals for school children using fresh ingredients.
- Company: Join Twelve15 at Dovers Green School, where passion meets purpose.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, health support, and term-time hours for a great work/life balance.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives through healthy eating and creative cooking.
- Qualifications: Experience in kitchen management, food safety certifications, and excellent communication skills.
- Other info: Opportunities for training and development, including a Level 3 Food Hygiene Qualification.
The predicted salary is between 16210 - 16210 £ per year.
This role is based at Dovers Green School. Though you will only work during term time, you will be paid a salary every month including school holidays. This role has a starting salary of £16,210.12 per annum for working 27.5 hours per week, 38.4 weeks per year (equivalent to £13.35 per hour, plus annual leave allowance).
Our Offer to You
- Competitive salary
- Final salary pension
- Discounts on various services including food shopping
- Health and wellbeing support
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Full induction
- Term time only hours that allow for good work/life balance
- Training and development opportunities, including a Level 3 Food Hygiene Qualification.
About The Role
Using your passion, creativity and enthusiasm, you will inspire a team to produce an outstanding menu using fresh ingredients. In addition to using your flair and passion to create great dishes, you will record meal transactions, control and administer stock, order food and sundry supplies, and take responsibility for the day to day running of a smooth kitchen. Your main goal will be to provide school children with tasty, nutritious meals that help them develop healthy bodies and minds.
Customer service is at the front and centre of the Twelve15 Vision and Mission. You will be a fantastic communicator with an ability to work with our school clients and our customers to promote the benefits of the service we offer.
Your Application
Your application should evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:
- A passion and skill for cooking with an ability to deliver high levels of meals in a food production environment
- Health and Safety Certificate Level 1, and proven understanding of health and safety in a kitchen environment
- Level 2 Food Safety Certificate
- NVQ Level 2 in food preparation and cooking or equivalent
- IT and administrative skills
- Excellent communication skills (including teamwork, leadership, and customer service)
- Experience supervising staff and managing a kitchen
- Experience using catering equipment and the ability to train others
- Excellent time keeping and flexibility around locations
We’d also love to hear about any other relevant skills, interests, or knowledge that you could bring to the table. Perhaps you have detailed knowledge about allergies, or a particular interest in nutrition. Additionally, if you don’t hold these qualifications but have a significant amount of experience catering for large groups of people in a management role, please don’t hesitate in applying!
To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following 4 questions:
- Why do you think eating healthily is so important for children and what is the impact of a healthy school meal for children?
- Please tell us about your experience of working in a kitchen, including the part you played in the production of food.
- What experience do you have supervising / managing staff responsible for producing large quantities of food?
- Please list any skills and qualifications you have that are relevant to this role.
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description and our Life at Surrey handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey.
Contact and Application Process
Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. If you have questions about the role, please email recruit.twelve15@surreycc.gov.uk.
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 8 February 2026. Interviews will follow. We look forward to receiving your application.
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)
Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1 April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities. Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community.
Our Commitment
We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview. Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.
Chef Manager - Dovers Green School employer: Surrey County Council
Contact Detail:
Surrey County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chef Manager - Dovers Green School
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the school and its values! Research Dovers Green School and understand their mission. This will help you tailor your conversations during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their community.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your cooking skills and be ready to showcase them! If you get the chance, bring a sample dish or share your ideas for a nutritious menu. This will demonstrate your passion and creativity right off the bat.
✨Tip Number 3
Brush up on your communication skills! As a Chef Manager, you'll need to inspire your team and connect with students. Think about examples from your past experiences where you've successfully led a team or improved customer service.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining our team at Twelve15 and making a difference in children's lives.
We think you need these skills to ace Chef Manager - Dovers Green School
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Cooking: Let us see your love for cooking shine through in your application! Share specific examples of dishes you've created or how you've inspired others in the kitchen. This is your chance to show that you’re not just about the food, but about making a difference in children's lives.
Highlight Relevant Experience: When answering the questions, be sure to detail your experience in managing a kitchen and supervising staff. We want to know how you've handled large quantities of food production and what role you played in ensuring everything runs smoothly.
Communicate Clearly: Excellent communication skills are key for this role. Make sure your application reflects your ability to connect with both your team and the school community. Use clear, concise language and don’t shy away from showcasing your teamwork and leadership experiences.
Tailor Your CV and Answers: Before hitting submit, double-check that your CV and answers align with the job description. We’re looking for specific skills and qualifications, so make sure you highlight those that match our needs. And remember, apply through our website for the best chance!
How to prepare for a job interview at Surrey County Council
✨Know Your Ingredients
Familiarise yourself with the key ingredients and dishes you might be preparing at Dovers Green School. Be ready to discuss how you can use fresh ingredients creatively to produce nutritious meals that appeal to children.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of your experience in supervising staff and managing a kitchen. Highlight specific situations where you successfully led a team, resolved conflicts, or improved kitchen operations to ensure a smooth workflow.
✨Communicate Your Passion for Healthy Eating
Be prepared to answer why healthy eating is crucial for children. Share your thoughts on the impact of nutritious meals on their development and how you can promote this within the school environment.
✨Demonstrate Your Safety Knowledge
Brush up on your health and safety knowledge, especially regarding food preparation. Be ready to discuss your certifications and how you implement safety practices in the kitchen to ensure a safe working environment.
