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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Inspire a team to create delicious, nutritious meals for school children using fresh ingredients.
- Company: Join a supportive and inclusive environment at Burstow School.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, health support, discounts, and training opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives through healthy eating.
- Qualifications: Passion for cooking, kitchen management experience, and excellent communication skills.
- Other info: Enjoy term-time hours for a great work/life balance.
The predicted salary is between 16210 - 16210 £ per year.
This role is based at Burstow 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 per annum for working 27.50 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.
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 13/02/2026 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.
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.
Locations
Chef Manager - Burstow School in Horley, Surrey employer: Surrey County Council
Contact Detail:
Surrey County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chef Manager - Burstow School in Horley, Surrey
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the school and its values! Research Burstow School and understand their mission around healthy eating. This will help you tailor your conversation during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨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 ideas for nutritious meals that could be served at the school. This not only demonstrates your passion but also gives you something tangible to discuss during your interview.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re tech-savvy and comfortable with online processes, which is a bonus in today’s job market.
We think you need these skills to ace Chef Manager - Burstow School in Horley, Surrey
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 that spark of creativity and enthusiasm!
Highlight Relevant Experience: When answering the questions, be sure to detail your experience in a kitchen environment. Talk about your role in food production and any leadership experience you have. This is your chance to show us how you can manage a team and keep things running smoothly.
Communicate Clearly: Excellent communication skills are key for this role. Make sure your application is clear and concise. Use straightforward language and structure your answers well so we can easily see how you meet our requirements.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, it makes the whole process smoother for both you and us. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Surrey County Council
✨Show Your Passion for Cooking
Make sure to express your love for cooking and how it translates into creating nutritious meals for children. Share specific examples of dishes you've created or your approach to using fresh ingredients, as this will resonate with the interviewers.
✨Highlight Your Kitchen Management Experience
Be ready to discuss your previous experience in managing a kitchen. Talk about how you supervised staff, maintained health and safety standards, and ensured smooth operations. Use concrete examples to illustrate your leadership skills and ability to work under pressure.
✨Prepare for the Key Questions
Anticipate the questions you'll be asked, especially those about the importance of healthy eating for children. Prepare thoughtful responses that reflect your understanding of nutrition and its impact on children's development, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Demonstrate Your Communication Skills
Since excellent communication is key, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Be prepared to discuss how you would engage with school clients and promote the benefits of your service, showcasing your customer service skills.
