Post Title: Head Chef
Salary Grade: NJC Scale SO2 Point 24-26
Pay Scale - £36,363 - £38,510 FTE
TTO Actual - £29,420
Term time factor/hours per week: 35 hours per week 07:30 – 14:30 Term Time only including 6 TED’s
Closing Date: 1st November 2026
We have an exciting opportunity for a talented and passionate and good-humoured Head Chef at the ContinU Plus Academy.
About the role
The role is to create, prepare and serve fresh, tasty and quality food for up to 150 people. The head chef will be responsible for ordering, stock takes and preparing food. The head chef will also be responsible for the management and health and safety of the kitchen.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Order supplies
Ensure the serving of quality culinary dishes and on schedule
Develop a quality and healthy menu
Forecast supply needs and estimate costs
Ensure efficiency of the kitchen and staff.
Ensure production of quality and consistent food
Perform accounting functions and scheduling of meals to be served
Weigh in on patron complaints
Ensure that the food servicing facility meets all necessary standards and regulations such as sanitary and safety guidelines
Create recipes and prepare advanced items
Assign tasks that are less complicated to lower kitchen staff
Maximize the productivity of the kitchen staff
Ensure proper equipment maintenance and operations
Oversee special catering events and where necessary offer culinary instruction and demonstrate techniques
Supervise kitchen personnel and their performance
Manage the visit of a EHO
Manage stock of food
Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate will have knowledge of food allergies as well as planning their own menus; a good understanding of food hygiene and health and safety issues; hold a level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate. Be a qualified passionate and good-humoured chef.
Experience of working in the catering industry and managing staff. It is essential for candidates to be able to cook to a high standard and provide direction and on the job training to other staff. It will be essential for candidates to have previous budgetary experience and responsibility and the ability to train other staff to cook to a high standard.
• Previous chef manager/supervisor experience and all of the above
• Highly reliable
• Good leader as well as team player
• Willingness to be flexible
Appointment is subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.
ContinU Plus Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
We particularly welcome applications from under represented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.