School Chef Manager
18 days ago
Wickford
Job Title: School Chef Manager Location: Essex, SS12 0PW School Type: SEN School (Ages 418) Hours: 39 hours per week (7:30am 3:00pm) Salary: £21,822.50 per annum Contract Type: Term-time Job Purpose We are seeking an experienced and dedicated Chef Manager to lead the catering service at a specialist SEN school in Essex, supporting children and young people aged 418. The role involves managing a high-quality, nutritious, and safe food service tailored to pupils with special educational needs, including specific dietary, medical, and sensory requirements. The kitchen operates a pre-order system serving approximately 130 meals per day , supported by 2 General Assistants (GAs) . Key Responsibilities Plan, prepare, and deliver nutritious, balanced meals appropriate for SEN pupils Manage daily kitchen operations, ensuring meals are delivered on time and to a high standard Lead, train, and supervise 2 General Assistants , promoting teamwork and efficiency Manage food ordering, stock control, and budgeting to meet cost targets Ensure strict compliance with food safety, health & safety, and hygiene regulations (HACCP) Cater for special diets, allergies, cultural, and medical requirements with care and accuracy Maintain high standards of cleanliness and organisation within the kitchen Build positive working relationships with school staff, pupils, and the catering provider Complete all required administration, including pre-order management, reports, and compliance records Person Specification Essential: Proven experience as a Chef Manager or Senior Chef (ideally in education or SEN settings) Strong understanding of food safety, allergens, and special dietary needs Ability to manage and motivate a small catering team Excellent organisational and communication skills Level 2 Food Safety Certificate (or willingness to obtain) Desirable: Experience working in SEN, primary, or education catering NVQ Level 2/3 in Professional Cookery or equivalent First Aid and allergen training Working Hours & Benefits Monday to Friday, 7:30am 3:00pm Term-time only , offering excellent worklife balance Competitive salary of £21,822.50 per annum Training and ongoing support provided by Innovate Opportunity to make a meaningful difference to pupils wellbeing TPBN1_UKCT