About the role
Looking for a hospitality role that fits your life not the other way around?
HEAD CHEF
Edinburgh Academy Junior School, 10 Arboretum Road, Edinburgh, EH3 5PL
Christmas & New Year Off Every Year & Mainly Monday to Friday hours
Hours: 40 hours per week, MondayFriday, 7:00am3:30pm
Additional hours: Occasional weekend work for school events as required
Pay: £35,000 per annum
Contract: 52 weeks
Requirements: Enhanced PVG check required; full UK driving licence essential; own vehicle required
Build a Hospitality Career That Works Around You
At Sodexo and Edinburgh Academy, we believe hospitality careers should offer more than long hours and late nights. This role provides a structured working pattern with evenings and most weekends free, alongside time off at Christmas and New Year every year.
Join a forward-thinking, supportive environment where you can lead with creativity, deliver exceptional food, and maintain a genuine worklife balance.
The Role
We are seeking an experienced and driven Head Chef to lead catering operations at Edinburgh Academy Junior School. This is an excellent opportunity for a confident leader to take ownership of a busy kitchen, delivering high-quality food and service while inspiring and developing a dedicated team.
Key Responsibilities
Lead all aspects of kitchen operations, from menu planning to service delivery
Deliver high-quality catering and hospitality that consistently exceeds expectations
Champion a fresh food, from-scratch approach across all services
Maintain the highest standards of food safety, hygiene, and compliance
Manage budgets effectively, ensuring cost control and efficiency
Train, mentor, and motivate your team to achieve excellence
Oversee allergen management and ensure accurate communication at all times
Plan and deliver hospitality for school events and special functions
About You
Proven experience in a professional catering environment (essential), ideally in contract or large-scale catering
Strong leadership experience within a busy kitchen environment
Confident in managing budgets and using catering systems
Relevant chef qualifications (NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent)
Food Safety Level 2 or above
Excellent organisation and time management skills, with the ability to perform under pressure
A positive, proactive, and motivated approach
Flexible, decisive, and able to inspire and lead a team effectively
What We Offer
Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package
Structured MondayFriday working pattern with worklife balance
Christmas and New Year off every year
Opportunities for career progression and development
A supportive, inclusive, and professional working environment
Additional Benefits
24/7 virtual GP and mental health support
Employee Assistance Programme (legal, financial, and personal support)
Sodexo Discounts Scheme for you, your family, and friends
Pension scheme
Learning and development opportunities
Cycle to Work scheme
Ready to Join Us?
If youre a passionate Head Chef who thrives on leadership, creativity, and delivering outstanding service, wed love to hear from you.
Safeguarding & Inclusion
Sodexo and The Edinburgh Academy are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. A satisfactory PVG check is required for this role. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and welcome applications from all backgrounds.
Apply today and take the next step in your career with Sodexo at Edinburgh Academy.
Please note: This role may close early if a high volume of applications is received.
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