Are you passionate about food, leadership, and making a difference in your local community? Vertas is looking for a dedicated Head of Kitchen to lead our catering service at Drakelow Park Flying High Academy. This is an exciting opportunity to manage a busy school kitchen, ensuring pupils receive nutritious, high quality meals in a safe and welcoming environment.
Who are Vertas?
Vertas delivers trusted, integrated facilities management solutions across Great Britain. Our team of 5,000 colleagues provides a comprehensive range of services including cleaning, catering, property management, recruitment, transport and environmental services. We place our customers at the heart of everything we do whilst prioritising the health, safety and wellbeing of our colleagues.
About the Role
Based at Drakelow Park Flying High Academy, DE15 9UA, you will work 22.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 1:30pm.
This is a term time only position, making it an ideal opportunity for someone seeking a role that aligns with school term dates.
As Head of Kitchen, you will take responsibility for the day to day management of the school catering operation. You will ensure high standards of food preparation and presentation whilst maintaining strict compliance with food safety and hygiene regulations. You will play a key role in creating a positive dining experience for pupils and staff, helping to promote healthy eating and excellent customer service.
Your Responsibilities Will Include
- Managing the daily operation of the school kitchen
- Preparing, cooking and serving nutritious meals to pupils and staff
- Ensuring compliance with all food safety, allergen, health and safety and hygiene procedures
- Maintaining accurate records and kitchen documentation
- Managing stock levels, ordering supplies and controlling food costs
- Supervising, motivating and supporting kitchen colleagues
- Ensuring kitchen equipment is used and maintained correctly
- Delivering a high standard of customer service at all times
- Supporting the implementation of company and school catering initiatives
Who Are We Looking For?
- Previous experience within a catering environment, ideally in education or contract catering
- Experience supervising or managing a team
- Good knowledge of food hygiene, allergen management and health and safety requirements
- Strong organisational and time management skills
- Excellent communication and leadership abilities
- A proactive approach with the ability to work independently and use initiative
- A passion for food and delivering a great customer experience
Safeguarding and Pre Employment Checks
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees to share this commitment.
Offers of employment are subject to appropriate pre employment checks, which may include:
- Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
- Children's Barred List check, where applicable
- Right to Work checks
- Satisfactory references
- Verification of qualifications and professional registrations, where applicable
- Occupational Health and medical clearance, where applicable
- Assessment of suitability to work with children
This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. As this role is eligible for an Enhanced DBS check, applicants are required to declare any cautions and convictions that are not protected under current filtering rules.
Apply Today
If you are an organised and enthusiastic catering professional looking for your next challenge, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today and join Vertas in delivering excellent catering services that support schools, communities and people every day.
