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- Tasks: Inspire a team to create delicious, nutritious meals for school children using fresh ingredients.
- Company: Join a supportive team at St Nicholas School, Guildford with a focus on health and wellbeing.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, discounts, health support, and training opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives through healthy eating and creative cooking.
- Qualifications: Passion for cooking, kitchen management experience, and strong communication skills required.
- Other info: Flexible term-time hours allow for a great work/life balance.
The predicted salary is between 14736 - 16400 £ per year.
This role is based at St Nicholas School, Guildford. 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 £14,736.47 per annum for working 25 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. 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.
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 31/12/2025 with interviews to follow. We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.
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 1st 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. Help us build a brighter future for our residents!
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 in Guildford employer: Surrey County Council
Contact Detail:
Surrey County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chef Manager in Guildford
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the school and its values! Research St Nicholas School and understand their mission. This will help you tailor your approach during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in contributing to their vision.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your communication skills! As a Chef Manager, you'll need to inspire your team and connect with students. Role-play common interview questions with a friend to boost your confidence and refine your answers.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your culinary creativity! Prepare a few signature dishes that reflect your passion for cooking. If you get the chance, share these ideas during your interview to demonstrate your flair and enthusiasm for the role.
✨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 proactive and keen to join our team at Twelve15.
We think you need these skills to ace Chef Manager in Guildford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Cooking: Let 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. We want to see your creativity and enthusiasm!
Highlight Relevant Experience: Make sure to detail your experience in a kitchen environment, especially any roles where you supervised staff or managed food production. This is your chance to show us how your background aligns with what we're looking for.
Answer the Questions Thoughtfully: Take your time with the four questions in the application. We want to hear your thoughts on healthy eating for children and your experiences in the kitchen. Be honest and let your personality come through!
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It's the easiest way for us to receive your CV and answers. Plus, it shows you're keen to join our team at St Nicholas School!
How to prepare for a job interview at Surrey County Council
✨Know Your Ingredients
Before the interview, brush up on your knowledge of nutrition and healthy eating, especially for children. Be ready to discuss how you can create nutritious meals that cater to their needs. This shows your passion for cooking and understanding of the role's impact.
✨Showcase Your Kitchen Experience
Prepare to share specific examples from your past kitchen experiences. Highlight your role in food production, any challenges you faced, and how you managed them. This will demonstrate your hands-on experience and ability to lead a team effectively.
✨Communicate with Confidence
Since excellent communication is key, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Think about how you would explain your ideas to both your team and school clients. Being able to convey your vision for the kitchen will set you apart.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Anticipate questions about managing staff and handling large quantities of food. Prepare scenarios where you successfully led a team or resolved conflicts. This will showcase your leadership skills and ability to maintain a smooth operation in the kitchen.
