Overview
Company Description
Caterlink is the education sector catering specialist. For over 20 years, the Company has delivered fresh food solutions to pupils and staff at Primary Schools, Secondary Schools and Colleges across the UK. The company caters more than 1,000,000 meals a week. Our “Fresh Food Policy” is the foundation of our success and growth in the market coupled with a desire to truly deliver on the promises we make to our clients and support our site-based teams.
Job Description
Caterlink is seeking an experienced and passionate Head Chef to join our team in Northwich, United Kingdom. As the Head Chef, you will play a crucial role in ensuring that our students receive nutritionally balanced and delicious meals while maintaining the highest standards of food safety and customer service.
Term Time Only Monday – Friday
£27,000 per year
- Lead and manage the kitchen team, fostering a collaborative and efficient work environment
- Plan and create innovative, nutritionally balanced menus tailored to students’ needs and preferences
- Oversee the preparation, cooking, and presentation of meals to meet company and client standards
- Ensure compliance with food safety regulations and maintain high hygiene standards in the kitchen
- Manage kitchen operations, including inventory control, budgeting, and cost management
- Train and develop kitchen staff, promoting culture of continuous improvement
- Collaborate with Collage management to meet dietary requirements and accommodate special requests
- Actively engage with students and staff to gather feedback and improve meal offerings
- Implement and maintain quality control measures for all food preparation and service
- Participate in menu planning sessions and contribute creative ideas for special events and themed meals
Qualifications
- Proven experience as a Head Chef or in a similar leadership role in a kitchen setting
- Strong knowledge of food safety standards and regulations, with a Level 3 Food Hygiene certification
- Excellent understanding of nutrition and ability to create balanced meals for students
- Proficiency in menu planning, food preparation techniques, and kitchen management
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and manage a diverse team
- Excellent organisational and time management skills
- Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment
- Solid financial acumen for budgeting and cost control
- Proficient in using kitchen equipment and technology
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Creativity and innovation in meal planning and presentation
- Knowledge of dietary requirements and allergen management
- Flexibility to adapt to changing needs and requirements in an educational setting
- Commitment to ongoing professional development and staying current with culinary trends
Additional Information
There are many advantages to working for us including:
- With Caterlink you have the opportunity to a blended learning programme that can include formal qualifications including Apprenticeships, classroom training, eLearning and on the job training to support and encourage your development and enable you to be the best you can be. Everyone who joins us is provided with an induction where they learn more about us and enable them to be the best they can be. We invest in development opportunities and are always looking to recruit, train and retain the best people for our own future talent and your own future development.
- Working for Caterlink ensure you are able to enjoy a great work/life balance – this is the beauty of working term-time only and no weekends!
- We offer you access to our Employee Discount Platform where you can make great savings at supermarkets, cinema, restaurants as well as holiday discounts, family days out and many more!
- Our Employee Assistance Program and Virtual GP benefits are there for you and your family to use free of charge at any time
- You may be eligible to join our Pension scheme
IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
