Areas covered: Kent, South East London, Medway, Maidstone, Tonbridge and Ashford.
Monday to Friday working – no weekends!
7:30am–2:30pm working hours.
School holidays off.
Christmas and public holidays off.
35 hours per week.
Term-time contract, with pay spread evenly over 12 months.
Mileage expenses reimbursed.
Additional retention bonus of up to £500!
Join Sodexo and become part of a supportive team where your skills are valued, your contribution matters and you have the opportunity to make a real difference.
Taking responsibility for the day-to-day running of school catering operations across different sites.
Leading, motivating and supporting kitchen teams to deliver excellent service.
Preparing and overseeing the production of fresh, high-quality meals on a large scale.
Managing food ordering, replenishment, stock control and kitchen resources.
Monitoring labour, food and operational costs to ensure budgets are maintained.
Creating and developing menus that meet the needs of pupils and school staff.
Ensuring consistently high standards of food quality, presentation and customer service.
Carrying out regular kitchen audits and ensuring all food hygiene, health and safety procedures are followed.
Supporting and training colleagues, helping them develop their skills and confidence.
We're looking for someone who is passionate about food, confident in the kitchen and enjoys leading and supporting a team.
A full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle (essential, as travel between school sites is required).
Experience cooking on a large scale, ideally catering for between 100 and 1,300 pupils.
Previous experience working as a Cook, Chef, Cook Manager or in a similar catering environment.
Experience supervising, managing or supporting a kitchen team.
Experience working with fresh ingredients and produce.
Good knowledge of food hygiene, health and safety procedures.
The ability to work independently, manage your time effectively and adapt to different kitchen environments.
A positive attitude, professional approach and the ability to lead by example.
NVQ Level 2 or equivalent.
Level 2 Food Safety Certificate.
Don't have all the qualifications? If you have at least one year's hands-on cooking experience, we can provide training in Food Hygiene and Health & Safety.
At Sodexo, we believe in rewarding our colleagues and providing opportunities to grow.
£16.00 per hour.
35 hours per week.
Mileage reimbursement: £0.45 per mile for the first 10,000 miles and £0.25 per mile thereafter.
£200 retention bonus upon successful completion of your 12-week probation.
A further £300 retention bonus after 52 weeks of service.
All eligible business travel expenses reimbursed.
Monday to Friday working.
7:30am–2:30pm.
Term-time only (39 working weeks per year).
Pay spread evenly over 52 weeks, meaning you'll receive a consistent monthly salary throughout the year.
School holidays and public holidays off, including Christmas!
Employee Assistance Programme, including access to financial and legal advice.
24-hour virtual GP access and health and wellbeing support.
Sodexo Discounts Scheme, with savings for you, friends and family.
Access to the Salary Finance Platform.
Sodexo Retirement Plan.
Death in Service benefit.
Cycle to Work Scheme.
Career development, training and progression opportunities.
Full protective uniform provided.
If you're an experienced Cook or Chef who enjoys leading a team, loves working with fresh food and wants a role that offers genuine work-life balance, we'd love to hear from you.
Please note: This role involves travelling between school sites, so a full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle are essential. Sodexo and its clients are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Successful applicants will be subject to appropriate pre-employment screening, including references and DBS checks where applicable.
Equated pay: Your contracted hours, working weeks and holiday pay are spread over 12 months, meaning you receive equal monthly payments throughout the year, including during school closure periods.
“A role where you can bring your passion for food”
ALL TRAVEL EXPENSES ARE REIMBURSED Retention BONUS for all attached mobile roles – £200 on successful completion of 12 week probation, further £300 after 52 weeks comple
**Equated pay (sometimes known as spread-over pay) is a method of paying you for your contracted hours, working weeks and holiday pay spread over 12 months instead of just receiving pay during the months that you work and none during the school closures/non-working weeks. This means that you get paid equal amounts of pay every month. Further information will be supplied at interview stage.**
At our company, we believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Roles at Sodexo are designed to empower individuals from all backgrounds. We are committed to creating an environment that values equity and supports the growth of all employees, ensuring that everyone can contribute to and benefit from our collective success.
Ever since we started, we’ve had a clear purpose – to do some good in our communities through helping people. Today, that purpose is still a huge part of who we are. And every one of our colleagues helps that happen.
We’re committed to volunteering our time, resources, skills and knowledge – more than 50% of colleagues contribute to thousands of volunteer hours every year. And our Charitable Foundation has now donated over £9 million to charities and good causes across the country.
At Sodexo, we’re here to support everyone applying to join us. If you need help getting your CV together, our handy tool can help.
Join us at Sodexo and explore the exciting career opportunities we offer! Whether you're interested in hospitality, facilities management, or food services, we invite you to set up a profile and become part of our vibrant team.