Job Introduction
Head Chef - Lead with Passion, Cook with Purpose!
Location: Chetham's school of Music, Long Millgate, Manchester, M3 1SB
Salary: £40000 per annum
Hours: 40 hours per week
Working Pattern: 5 out of 7 days [6.30am - 2.30pm or/and 11am - 7pm (FLEXIBLE)]
Every 3rd weekend off, No late finishes
Free onsite Parking
Staff workplace meals provided, Flexible working arrangements with Potential progression within Sodexo
Exceptional Sodexo benefits with Great discounts & Recognition and Potential progression within Sodexo
Are you ready to take the lead in a fast-paced kitchen where high-quality food delivery meets large-scale event catering?
As Head Chef with Sodexo, you will oversee a dynamic, high-volume catering operation at Chetham’s School of Music, preparing and delivering meals for up to 400 people across multiple service areas. This role goes beyond day-to-day cooking, you’ll play a key part in coordinating large-scale service, supporting events, and ensuring consistency, efficiency, and quality at every sitting.
Your leadership will be central to maintaining smooth operations in a busy environment, inspiring your team to perform at their best while delivering exceptional food and service standards.
Best of all? Enjoy a great work-life balance with all bank holidays and public holidays off, including Christmas.
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:
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Our ethos is “Fresh Food from Scratch” so it is imperative to prepare and present food to the notified standard, ensuring the standard of “fresh food from Scratch” is followed.
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Oversee and coordinate all core culinary activities across catering locations to ensure consistency and quality.
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Manage and control service delivery to meet specified performance, quality, and financial targets while maintaining high standards.
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Ensure value for money through effective supply chain management and purchasing practices.
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Build and nurture long-term client relationships to foster stability and growth.
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Recruit, induct and develop talented employees within the kitchen and, if necessary, firmly and fairly manage poor performance.
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Identify opportunities for organic growth and new business development within the catering operation.
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Ensure compliance with food hygiene, health, safety, and environmental legislation using Sodexo’s safety systems.
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Drive continuous improvement and innovation to meet the expectations of school and catering management.
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Provide strategic and technical support, offering professional advice to clients, colleagues, and the team.
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Plan, cost, and implement menus using the DRIVe planning tool, ensuring variety, seasonality, innovation, and financial robustness.
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Champion the Fresh Food Standards ensuring Chetham’s is the unrivalled site for schools to see and shows off the very best to prospect accounts and visitors alike
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Be an active (site based) member of the Chef Development team for Independents by Sodexo by contributing dishes and recipes, attending meetings, assisting with projects
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Engage with key client groups - “Walk the Floor” during service periods and engage and interact with clients, colleagues, and any visitors. Attend pupil food committee meetings each half term
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Represent Sodexo at industry events.
What You Bring:
Essential:
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Experienced Chef who has operated in a busy high volume contract catering, client facing environment
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Good communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to be an effective team player
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Flexible, with the ability to work under pressure and across a range of shifts and service times
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Direct management experience of chefs / kitchen brigade
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Clear, strong and effective leadership style
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Strong ability to increase individuals’ effectiveness through leadership, motivation, communication, coaching and training
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Excellent time management and organisational skills
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Ability to set and maintain standards
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NVQ level 2 Food Production certificate or equivalent
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Intermediate Food Hygiene certificate
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Strong level of literacy and numeracy
Desirable
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Ability to review problems analytically, develop opportunities and implement innovative solutions / approaches
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PC literate
Advanced Food Safety or Health and Safety qualification
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What We Offer:
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A dynamic and supportive work environment
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Competitive salary and benefits
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Full training and protective uniform provided
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No unsociable hours and public holidays off—including Christmas!
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Unlimited access to mental health and wellbeing support
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Employee Assistance Programme for legal, financial, and personal support
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Discounts, cashback schemes, and financial benefits
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Career progression, learning opportunities, and apprenticeships
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Cycle to Work Scheme and volunteering opportunities
At Sodexo, we believe everyone deserves a place to belong. This isn’t just a job—it’s a chance to be part of something bigger. If you’re ready to lead with passion and cook with purpose, we want to hear from you!
Apply today and help us create a brighter future!
Note: Sodexo and our clients are committed to safeguarding children. All roles require pre-employment screening, including DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) and past employer checks.
Sodexo reserves the right to close this advert early if we receive a high number of applications.
