School Catering Manager - Lead Kitchen, Term Time

Register Your Interest - Catering Manager & Chef Manager Opportunities

Location: School site in Stourbridge or Halesowen, West Midlands

Pay: £15.00 per hour

Working Pattern & Hours:

• 37.5 hours per week
• Monday to Friday
• Term Time Only
• 39 working weeks per year
• School hours

Looking for a leadership role that offers a fantastic work life balance?

Sodexo is inviting expressions of interest for Catering Manager and Chef Manager opportunities within our school sites in Stourbridge and Halesowen.

We're looking to build our talent pool for future vacancies, so while these positions may not be available immediately, registering your interest means you'll be among the first candidates we contact when recruitment begins.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a supportive team where you'll lead a school catering operation, inspire colleagues, and make a real difference by delivering nutritious, high-quality meals to pupils and staff every day.

With Monday to Friday working, term time only contracts, and school hours, these roles offer an excellent work-life balance without evening or weekend shifts.

About the Role

Whether you're an experienced Catering Manager, Chef Manager, Head Chef, or an ambitious catering professional looking for your next leadership opportunity, you'll play a key role in delivering an outstanding school catering service.

You'll take ownership of the day-to-day kitchen operation, ensuring fresh, nutritious meals are prepared and served to the highest standards while leading and developing your team to deliver an exceptional customer experience.

Working closely with the school and Sodexo teams, you'll manage food production, compliance, financial performance, and service quality, creating a welcoming dining environment that encourages healthy eating and exceeds customer expectations.

What You'll Do

• Lead and motivate a dedicated kitchen team, creating a positive and supportive working environment.
• Prepare and oversee the delivery of fresh, nutritious meals for pupils, staff, and visitors.
• Manage the day-to-day running of the catering operation, ensuring excellent food quality and customer service.
• Plan staff rotas and support the recruitment, training, and development of your team.
• Manage stock ordering, deliveries, inventory, and supplier relationships.
• Monitor food costs, labour, and budgets to achieve financial targets.
• Complete all required food safety, compliance, and operational paperwork accurately.
• Ensure full compliance with food hygiene, allergen management, health & safety, and safeguarding requirements.
• Work collaboratively with school leadership teams to continuously improve the catering service.
• Introduce themed menus, promotions, and food initiatives that enhance the dining experience and encourage meal uptake.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for passionate catering professionals who enjoy leading teams and delivering exceptional food service.

You'll ideally have:

• Previous experience as a Catering Manager, Chef Manager, Head Chef, Cook Manager, or similar leadership role.
• Experience working within a busy catering, hospitality, or education environment.
• Experience managing teams and developing colleagues.
• Strong organisational and communication skills.
• Experience managing stock, food ordering, budgets, and food costs.
• A sound understanding of food safety, allergen management, and health & safety legislation.
• A passion for delivering outstanding customer service and creating great food experiences.

Desirable

• Experience within education or contract catering.
• NVQ Level 2 or Level 3 Professional Cookery (or equivalent).
• Level 2 Food Safety Certificate.
• Experience managing financial performance and achieving budget targets.

What We Offer

Working with Sodexo is more than a job- it's an opportunity to be part of something greater. We value our colleagues and are committed to helping you grow, succeed, and thrive.

You'll benefit from:

• Competitive salary and comprehensive Sodexo benefits package.
• Monday to Friday working with evenings, weekends, and school holidays off.
• Access to wellbeing and mental health support.
• Employee Assistance Programme for confidential advice and guidance.
• 24/7 Virtual GP access through our wellbeing platform.
• Exclusive colleague discounts for you, your family, and friends.
• Financial wellbeing tools and retirement plan.
• Learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Volunteering opportunities within local communities.
• Full training, uniform, and ongoing support

Additional Information

Term Time Only - Equated Pay

These roles are Term Time Only, working 39 weeks per year.

Your salary will be paid in 12 equal monthly instalments, meaning you'll receive a consistent monthly salary throughout the year, including during school holiday periods.

Further details will be provided during the interview process.

Sodexo and our clients are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Certain roles will require applicants to undergo appropriate screening, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Sodexo reserves the right to close this advert early if we receive a high number of applications.