Catering/Kitchen Manager

We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic and skilled Catering Manager to manage our fantastic school kitchens and to provide delicious and nutritious meals for our lovely pupils at Biggleswade Academy.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead our school’s catering team and play a key role in delivering high-quality, nutritious meals to our pupils and staff. As Catering Manager, you will be responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the school kitchens, managing two small kitchen teams, planning menus in line with nutritional standards, and ensuring compliance with food hygiene and safety regulations.
We are looking for someone with strong leadership skills, a passion for food, and a commitment to providing excellent service. The ideal candidate will have experience in a similar role and be highly organised.

It is desirable that the successful candidate holds a relevant qualification in Catering, Food or Hospitality, ideally to NVQ Level 3 and is confident using computer systems – full training will be given for our kitchen management software.

Key duties will include:

– Responsibility for the operational efficiency of the catering service, planning, preparation and presentation of food to the required standard within agreed budget limitations
– Planning and developing the school’s catering provision for pupils and staff, delivering high quality, nutritious meals tailored to the diverse needs of our pupils
– A strong understanding of special dietary requirements, including allergies
– The ability to batch cook, preventing over production and reducing food waste
– Managing stock and ensuring the storeroom is kept tidy and organised
– Line manage a team of catering assistants across two kitchens, including performance appraisals
– Maintain the highest standards of hygiene and health and safety in both the kitchen and dining areas
– To undertake any training in order to operate the schools kitchen management system

If you’re ready to take the lead in creating a positive dining experience that supports pupil well-being and learning, we would love to hear from you.

Hours: 30 hours per week – 8am to 2pm – plus two 30 minute meetings each half term (6 hours a year)

Weeks: Term time plus 3 inset training days and 1 or 2 open evenings each year

Salary: NJC 4B point 12

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: 26th November 2025

To apply, please visit https://biggleswadeacademy.org/biggleswade-academy/careers-with-us.

If you have any questions regarding this position, please call 01767 660 515 or email vacancies@biggleswadeacademy.org

We reserve the right to appoint before the closing date.
Biggleswade Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the DBS (Disclosure Barring Service). In line with Keeping Children safe in Education, online searches will be undertaken for all prospective shortlisted candidates.

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