Chef - Lead with Passion, Cook with Purpose! Location: Priors Court Priors Ct Rd, Hermitage, Thatcham RG18 9NU Salary: £14 per hour Hours: 40 hours per week Working Pattern: 5 days out of 7 flexible shifts 52 weeks Contract with Meals on duty Are you ready to take the lead in a kitchen where food fuels not just bodies but bright futures? As a Chef for Sodexo, you'll assist the Manager/Assistant Manager with preparation, cooking and serving of meals for the students and House staff and to deputise for the Senior Chef in their absence. Best of all? No unsociable hours and public holidays off—including Christmas! Join Sodexo and be part of something greater. You belong in a team where you can act with purpose and thrive in your own way. What You’ll Do: Help with preparation of meals in the House as directed by the manager Manage day- to day kitchen activities, managing tasks, establish performance and development goals for yourself Oversee the catering and Hospitality functions by ensuring smooth delivery, consistency, innovation and the use of quality products. Promote teamwork and empower your line reports and others around you. Educate and train line reports in compliance with food safety and service behaviours. Ensure a can-do approach at all time and engage with people on all levels in the appropriate manner. Ensure that all kitchen equipment and storerooms are in a proper operational condition and are cleaned as per Sodexo cleaning schedules as a minimum. Adhere to all Sodexo policies and procedures. Management of food standards and quality across all areas during all stages of food preparation and production Ensure that all dishes are prepared, cooked and served to the highest standard at all times in line with menu specifications Ensure that methods of food preparation, production, presentation and service comply with company standards Ensure that Kitchen preparation and clear-down procedures are followed on a daily basis Ensure a high standard of kitchen cleanliness is maintained at all times What You Bring: Essential: Experience cooking on a large scale (100–1300 students) NVQ 2 Catering or equivalent qualification Previous experience of working as a Chef Team player with the ability to be flexible Good communication skills An ability to work unsupervised and to use own initiative Ability to work calmly whilst under pressure in order to meet deadlines General interest passion for good food and taking pride in the food that is produced What We Offer: A dynamic and supportive work environment Competitive salary and benefits Full training and protective uniform provided No unsociable hours and public holidays off—including Christmas! Unlimited access to mental health and wellbeing support Employee Assistance Programme for legal, financial, and personal support Discounts, cashback schemes, and financial benefits Career progression, learning opportunities, and apprenticeships Cycle to Work Scheme and volunteering opportunities At Sodexo, we believe everyone deserves a place to belong. This isn’t just a job—it’s a chance to be part of something bigger. If you’re ready to lead with passion and cook with purpose, we want to hear from you! Apply today and help us create a brighter future! Note: Sodexo and our clients are committed to safeguarding children. All roles require pre-employment screening, including DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) and past employer checks. Sodexo reserves the right to close this advert early if we receive a high number of applications.