Position: Chef
Pay: £13.40 per hour (£20,904.00 per annum)
Location: YMCA Norfolk Catering Services
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours per week: 30 hours
Job Role
We are looking for a passionate and reliable Chef to join our Catering Team at YMCA Norfolk. This is a rewarding opportunity to play a key role in preparing nutritious meals for children, young people and the wider community, while supporting an organisation committed to making a real difference.
As a Chef, youll be responsible for food preparation, cooking and maintaining high standards of food safety and hygiene. Youll work collaboratively with colleagues across services, including nursery and housing teams, to meet the needs of those we support.
Key Responsibilities
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Prepare and cook meals in line with agreed recipes and portion control
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Ensure compliance with Food Safety, Health & Safety and Environmental Health standards
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Maintain a clean, safe and organised kitchen environment
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Monitor stock levels, receive deliveries, and rotate stock appropriately
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Operate kitchen equipment, tills and PDQ machines as required
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Liaise with internal teams to meet dietary and service needs
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Deliver excellent customer service to all service users
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Support safeguarding practices and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults
About You
We are looking for someone who:
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Has experience working in a commercial kitchen environment
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Can work effectively under pressure and manage competing priorities
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Has a good understanding of food hygiene and health & safety regulations
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Holds (or is willing to work towards) a Food Hygiene Certificate
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Has excellent communication skills and a strong team ethic
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Demonstrates attention to detail and a commitment to quality
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Is empathetic, non-judgemental and committed to supporting vulnerable groups
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Is flexible and able to work unsocial hours when required
Qualifications:
NVQ Level 2 in Catering/Food Preparation (or equivalent) is essential
Further information can be found at Chef Job Description
The Organisation
At YMCA Norfolk we are hope filled, inspiring and empowering.
We aim to offer meaningful opportunities to make a difference in the lives of young people. We place young people at the heart of all we do and are committed to building an organisation that is responsive to the needs of young people within our community.
As a value-driven organisation we want our identity to run through everything we do, so we aim to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for not only the young people we serve but our staff too. Working at YMCA Norfolk is an opportunity to be a part of an organisation which is challenging, innovative, rewarding and most importantly fun!
For more information on this role, please contact [email protected].
Benefits
- Health Care Plan
- 34 days (pro rata) per annum inclusive of Bank and Public Holidays
- An additional day of annual leave (pro rata) awarded after 5 and 10 years of continuous Long Service
- Access to contributory stakeholder pension scheme after 3 months
- Health and wellbeing events and activities
- Family friendly policies
- In service training opportunities and bursaries investing in your development
- Annual staff day and staff awards to celebrate our successes
- Death in service benefit of 2 x annual salary
- Regular line management and support
- Staff discount at Williams Kitchen Café, Explorers Soft Play & Muddy Puddles Nursery
Closing date for applications: 9am on Friday 24th July 2026
We reserve the right to close the online vacancy when we are in receipt of sufficient applications. Should you wish to apply for this post you are advised to complete and submit your application form as soon as possible.
YMCA Norfolk is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Please note the successful candidate will be required to undertake a Basic DBS check prior to starting employment.
Written references will be obtained for the successful candidate that will cover the previous 5 years of employment. The successful candidate will be advised that an offer of employment is subject to us obtaining a minimum of two references which are satisfactory to YMCA Norfolk. Character references may be sought where it is not possible to obtain employment references.
YMCA Norfolk will consider all applications, however this role does not meet the salary requirements for sponsorship.
If you require an alternative method of applying, or documents in a different format, please email our HR Team via [email protected]
