Job Title: Trust Development and Relief Chef
Hours: Monday to Friday , 37 hours per week, Term Time plus 5 Inset
Salary: Grade 8 SCP 27 - 31 FTE £38,220 - £41,771 (Actual salary £32,837 - £35,888) pay award pending
Bring your culinary expertise to a role where every day makes a difference.
Bring your culinary expertise to a role where every day makes a difference.
Are you an experienced Head Chef looking for a varied and rewarding role? Do you enjoy leading teams, developing great food and sharing your expertise across multiple sites?
Midsomer Norton Schools' Partnership is looking for a talented Trust Development and Relief Chef to provide hands-on culinary leadership and operational support across our schools. This is an exciting opportunity to work with a passionate catering team, helping to deliver high-quality, nutritious meals that pupils enjoy while supporting colleagues across our Trust.
No two days are the same. You'll travel between schools, providing planned and emergency cover, supporting catering teams, developing menus and driving consistently high standards of food quality, safety and customer service.
What you'll be doing
- Providing operational cover for Head Chefs and Chef Managers during absence, holidays and vacancies
- Preparing and serving imaginative, nutritious meals that meet high quality standards
- Supporting catering teams across primary and secondary schools to deliver an excellent dining experience
- Helping to develop seasonal menus that meet nutritional standards and cater for a range of dietary requirements
- Coaching, mentoring and supporting catering staff to build confidence and consistency
- Ensuring compliance with food hygiene, health and safety, COSHH and HACCP requirements
- Managing stock, ordering supplies and supporting effective budget control
- Promoting excellent food presentation, service standards and customer satisfaction
- Supporting the Trust's commitment to the Food for Life Partnership Scheme
About you
We're looking for someone who is passionate about food and enjoys working with people. You'll be adaptable, organised and confident working across different school environments.
You'll have:
- At least two years' experience working at Head Chef level
- Relevant catering qualifications such as City & Guilds 706/1 & 2 or NVQ Level 2 or 3
- Excellent knowledge of nutrition, dietary requirements and food safety legislation
- Experience of leading and motivating catering teams
- Strong organisational and communication skills
- Experience managing budgets and stock control
- A commitment to delivering consistently high standards
- The flexibility to travel across Trust schools (mileage is paid)
- A calm and resilient approach in a fast-paced environment
- A Level 3 Food Hygiene qualification and GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Mathematics would be advantageous.
There are many advantages to working for us. Included in your actual annual salary is generous annual leave entitlement, access to a local government pension scheme, sick pay scheme, cycle-to-work scheme, free eye tests for VDU users and employee assistance helpline. Support staff in schools can also benefit from a range of national discount schemes available to education professionals such as the Blue Light Card offering savings on shopping, travel, and leisure.
We encourage early applications as we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the closing date if we receive sufficient applications for the role.
