Job Title: Commercial Chef Manager
Department: Visitor Economy, Leisure & Service Industries
Salary: £36,000 per year
Job Type: Full time, permanent, 35 hours per week
We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Commercial Chef Manager who is forward thinking and with exceptional leadership skills. to oversee cross-college catering operations and manage a team of technicians dedicated to providing exceptional food service across our five college sites. This role requires a qualified chef with strong management experience, capable of ensuring that all food prepared and served to students is of the highest standard. Additionally, the Commercial Chef will prepare and present food for various hospitality events, while collaborating with students and external employers to promote integrated work opportunities.
Responsible to: Head of Visitor Economy, Leisure & Service Industries
Culinary Excellence:
- Prepare and cook high-quality meals that meet nutritional standards and dietary requirements for students.
- Develop, implement, and maintain standard menu offerings, ensuring variety, seasonal ingredients, and student preferences are considered.
- Conduct regular quality checks on food preparation and presentation.
Team Management:
- Line-manage a team of technicians across five college sites, ensuring effective communication and teamwork.
- Provide training, support, and mentorship to technicians and student assistants, fostering their culinary skills and professional growth.
- Organize work schedules and training sessions to ensure efficient kitchen operations and staff development.
- Strong establishment standards of kitchen and personal hygiene including PPE to be maintained across all sites
Hospitality Events:
- Plan, prepare, and execute food services for a wide range of hospitality events, including catering for college functions, conferences, and community outreach.
- Collaborate with students to engage them in the preparation of food for events, promoting experiential learning opportunities.
- Ensure all hospitality events adhere to safety and hygiene standards, consistently creating a positive dining experience.
Collaboration and Liaison:
- Act as the primary contact between college management and external employers, promoting partnerships that integrate work experience opportunities for students.
- Develop relationships with local businesses and stakeholders to enhance catering services and support community engagement.
Operational Oversight:
- Monitor and manage food production costs, waste, and inventory while maintaining budget standards and ensuring cost-effectiveness.
- Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, food safety standards, and college policies at all times.
- Improve on-site Cafe's provision across all sites
Continuous Improvement:
- Gather feedback from students and stakeholders regarding food services and strive for continuous improvement.
- Stay current with culinary trends, dietary needs, and food service innovations to enhance offerings and learning experiences.
Essential:
- A recognised culinary qualification (e.g. NVQ Level 2/3, City & Guilds) or equivalent
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a senior chef role within the catering or hospitality industry
- Proven management experience, with a track record of leading teams effectively
- Strong culinary skills and knowledge of diverse cuisines and dietary requirements
- Excellent organisational and multitasking abilities
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively liaise with diverse groups, including students, staff and external stakeholders
- Ability to inspire and motivate a team in a fast-paced environment
Desirable:
- Flexibility to work across multiple college sites as needed
- Commitment to upholding health and safety standards while creating an inclusive environment for all students
- A valid food hygiene certification (Level 2 or above)
Please Note
This role may close earlier than the advertised deadline if we receive sufficient applications. Early submission is strongly encouraged.
Why Join The City of Liverpool College?
Benefits of working at the College
As a valued member of our College community, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits, dedicated wellbeing support, and meaningful opportunities for professional growth and development.
Pension Scheme
You'll be part of the Local Government Pension Scheme with employer contributions of up to 20.20%, one of the best pension packages in the sector.
Leave entitlement
Up to 30 days annual holiday allowance, plus 1 wellbeing day. You’ll also benefit from 5 to 7 days statutory closure and 2 further days closure at Easter.
Employee Benefit Platform
As part of your role, you’ll have access to the COLC Employee Benefits Platform, a one-stop hub for a wide range of perks designed to support your wellbeing, work-life balance, and everyday savings. You’ll be able to access discounts at major supermarkets, fashion and lifestyle retailers, tech stores, travel providers, and more. You’ll also benefit from the Cycle to Work Scheme, cinema and leisure discounts and tech and home appliance discounts, with the option of spreading the cost through salary sacrifice. The platform is part of our commitment to supporting you in every aspect of your working life – and beyond.
Health and Wellbeing
As part of our commitment to supporting your health and wellbeing, all employees have access to the Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – a completely confidential support service available 24/7, 365 days a year. Whether you’re facing personal challenges, looking for advice, or simply need someone to talk to, Health Assured is here to help. Through Health Assured, you can access a 24/7 confidential helpline, face to face, online or telephone counselling, as well as structured support for a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, relationships, bereavement, legal and financial concerns.
You'll also have access to the online wellbeing portal, a secure, user-friendly platform offering a wide range of self-help resources, health assessments, articles, and guidance covering emotional, physical, and financial wellbeing, and to the Wisdom App, which offers mood trackers and wellbeing tools, meditation guides, fitness videos, and self-help modules as well as daily wellbeing tips.
You’ll also be entitled to a free eye test through our voucher scheme with Specsavers, which covers a full eye exam (worth up to £25) and even includes £45 towards a pair of glasses. We also offer free flu vaccinations to help keep you feeling your best all year round.
Travel
We offer interest-free loans to help you buy annual travel passes from Merseytravel and Merseyrail. That means you can enjoy the savings of up to two months' free travel—without having to cover the full cost upfront. It’s all about making your commute more affordable and less stressful.
Flexible Working
We offer flexible working options depending on business need to support our employee's work-life balance.
Professional Development
We’re passionate about helping you thrive, offering a mix of formal and informal professional development opportunities—designed to sharpen your skills, expand your knowledge, and accelerate your career.
College Benefits
Our excellent sports and fitness facilities can be used free of charge by staff. You can also access a range of discounted hair and beauty treatments at our Academy and Graduate Hair & Beauty Salons, and a staff discount at our Academy Restaurant.
About The City of Liverpool College
The City of Liverpool College is a leading education provider for almost 12,000 students across the Liverpool City Region, from ages 16 and up.
Our passion for nurturing talent and personal approach to teaching makes sure all our students are fully equipped to realise their potential and be empowered to live out their career ambitions.
We believe in opportunity for all and offer access to both academic and vocational courses. From GCSE to degree level, our students achieve some of the highest exam results in the region.
As a recognised leader in skills and education, we are proud to have been named the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce 2024 Skills Provider of the Year, a testament to our deep-rooted commitment to delivering outstanding education that meets the needs of our students and the regional economy. We are also a proud member of the Chartered Institution for Further Education, reinforcing our position as a centre of excellence within the sector. Our recent Ofsted inspection rated us ‘Outstanding’ for Adult Provision and Personal Development, highlighting our dedication to providing life-changing education that empowers learners at every stage of their journey.
Our Mission
To provide high quality skills and education by delivering opportunities for growth to all people and businesses of the Liverpool City Region.
Our Goals
- Deliver world class skills in business
- Provide an outstanding learning and student experience
- Develop the talent for sustainable employment
Safeguarding Our Students
The City of Liverpool College is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare our learners, and all staff will require an Enhanced DBS check.
Ready to Take the Next Step in Your Career?
Join a dynamic team shaping the future of education in the Liverpool City Region. With over 600 dedicated staff, five campuses, hundreds of courses, and more than 10,000 students, we're proud to be a leader in learning and innovation. Ready to make an impact? Apply now and become part of our journey.
