Chef

“A Role That Fits Your Life - and Your Family”

Dark Kitchen Chef (Fast Food)

• Pay:

  £14.27 per hour

• Hours:

  37.5 hours per week

• Working:

  Monday to Friday 7am to 3pm occasional evenings and weekends required

• Permanent

• Check your local transport links here:

  SO14 OYN Plan Your Journey | Traveline

• Free Meals and Uniform Provided

• Recognised professional cookery qualification (e.g., City & Guilds 706/1 & 706/2, NVQ Level 2/3, or equivalent) required

At Sodexo, we believe great food creates great moments. We’re looking for a passionate and skilled Dark Kitchen Chef to join our vibrant campus team at Solent University. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a modern, fast-paced kitchen environment serving students, staff, and the public, with approximately 80% of your time spent in our dedicated dark kitchen operation.

As a Dark Kitchen Chef, you’ll plan, prepare, and cook both hot and cold menu items to a high standard in a click-and-collect, commercial catering environment. You’ll work to pre-agreed specifications, using produce provided by our onsite management team. Experience with platform app brands or chain restaurants is a plus, as is the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume kitchen.

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better every day for everyone. In our university environments, that means delivering nutritious, exciting food while maintaining the highest operational standards. You won’t just be cooking, you’ll be contributing to an experience that supports student life and campus community.

If you’re ready to bring your skills, energy, and passion to a dynamic university setting, apply today.

Join Sodexo and be part of something greater. You belong in a team where you can act with purpose and thrive in your own way.

What You’ll Do

• Prepare hot and cold menu items in a dark kitchen setting

• Maintain food safety and hygiene standards at all times

• Manage stock delivery, rotation, and accurate recording

• Keep kitchen and work areas clean and audit-ready

• Monitor temperatures, complete records, and assist with ordering

• Work collaboratively with the Head Chef and Retail Manager to maintain service excellence

What You Bring

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Experienced in a commercial or dark kitchen environment

• Able to multitask and work at pace in a high-pressure setting

• Detail-oriented and committed to quality and presentation

• Flexible and adaptable to changing demands

• Passionate about food, service, and creating great customer experiences

Essential Skills & Qualifications

• Professional cookery qualification (e.g., City & Guilds 706/1 & 706/2, NVQ Level 2/3, or equivalent)

• Proven experience in fast-paced food preparation and cooking

• Knowledge of health, safety, and food hygiene practices

What We Offer

• Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it’s a chance to be part of something greater. You’ll belong to a company and team that values you for you; you’ll act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions; and you’ll be able to thrive in your own way.

• Unlimited access to an online platform offering mental health and wellbeing support.

• Employee Assistance Programme to help with everyday issues or larger problems, including legal and financial advice and support with work-related or personal issues such as bereavement.

• Access to a free health and wellbeing app that provides rewards for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and includes access to a 24-hour virtual GP and various other services.

• The Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering great deals 24/7 (also open to friends and family) and/or the prepayment cashback card.

• Money insights and financial benefits via the Salary Finance Platform.

• Save for your future by becoming a member of the Sodexo Retirement Plan.

• Death in Service benefit for colleagues who pass away while employed by Sodexo.

• Opportunities for growth and success throughout your career at Sodexo, including apprenticeships and a variety of learning and development tools.

• Cycle to Work Scheme to help colleagues contribute to the environment while keeping fit.

• Volunteering Opportunities to enable all colleagues to support worthwhile causes in our communities.

• A flexible and dynamic work environment.

• Competitive compensation.

• Full training and full protective uniform supplied.

Ready to be part of something greater? Apply today!

Sodexo and our clients are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Certain roles will require applicants to undergo screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (UK) and/or Disclosure Scotland (Scotland).

Note:

Sodexo reserves the right to close this advert early if we receive a high number of applications.

File Downloads

• HR-5933_Benefits UK Brochure V9.pdf
• Chef JD 2026 updated.pdf