Catering Manager

Catering Manager – Primary School Location: Essex Salary: £16,058 – £16,843 per annum (actual salary) + £635.56 Inner Fringe Allowance Contract: Permanent, Part-Time Hours: 30 hours per week Working Pattern: Term time only, 38 weeks per year Start Date: As soon as possible, subject to satisfactory safer recruitment checks Teach Now is recruiting an experienced and enthusiastic Catering Manager to join a welcoming primary school in Essex. This is a fantastic permanent opportunity for someone who takes pride in delivering fresh, nutritious meals and enjoys leading a busy school kitchen. As Catering Manager, you will oversee the day-to-day running of the kitchen, ensuring pupils and staff receive high-quality meals in a safe, organised and welcoming environment. This is a hands‑on role combining food preparation and service with team supervision, stock management and food safety compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare, cook and serve nutritious, appealing meals in line with school menus and nutritional standards.
• Lead and support a small kitchen team to ensure an efficient daily service.
• Maintain consistently high standards of food hygiene, cleanliness and kitchen safety.
• Order supplies, monitor stock levels and manage food resources effectively within budget.
• Complete relevant food safety, hygiene and compliance records accurately.
• Ensure dietary requirements and allergens are managed carefully and appropriately.
• Help create a positive dining experience for pupils while supporting the schools healthy eating ethos.

About You

• Previous experience in catering, professional food preparation or a similar kitchen environment.
• Experience within a school, education or high-volume catering setting would be beneficial.
• A Level 2 or Level 3 Food Hygiene qualification.
• Confidence supervising and supporting other kitchen staff.
• Strong knowledge of food hygiene, health and safety and allergen requirements.
• Good organisational and stock-management skills.
• A positive, practical approach and the ability to work effectively during busy service periods.

This Catering Manager role offers the opportunity to become an important part of a friendly and supportive primary school community.

Benefits

• Permanent, term-time-only employment with school holidays off.
• A supportive and welcoming school environment.
• Training and opportunities for continued professional development.
• A strong focus on staff wellbeing and healthy work-life balance.
• The opportunity to make a visible difference to childrens health, wellbeing and school experience.

Salary will be determined in line with the advertised scale and the successful candidates relevant qualifications and experience.

Teach Now operates stringent safer recruitment procedures. We are committed to promoting equality and challenging discrimination. Teach Now is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post will be subject to an Enhanced DBS Clearance.