About the role
We are looking to recruit a Catering Manager on a 1 year fixed term contract to run our busy kitchen and lead the catering team. The successful applicant will be a natural leader with good communication skills to motivate the team in providing an exceptional and outstanding service to students and staff.
Responsibilities
* Support the day‑to‑day running of the catering service, ensuring high standards of cleanliness, food presentation and customer service within the café and kitchen areas.
* Supervise and support the catering team to provide a consistent and friendly service to students, staff and visitors.
* Assist with staff induction, training and ongoing development where required.
* Ensure compliance with Food Safety, Environmental Health and Health & Safety procedures and guidelines.
* Assist with monitoring budgets, controlling costs and maintaining accurate catering records and generating reports.
* Monitor stock levels, support ordering processes and help minimise wastage.
* Maintain positive working relationships with suppliers and support value‑for‑money purchasing.
* Support the School Business Manager in delivering hospitality and catering services across the school.
* Supervise, direct and train Kitchen Assistants.
* Generate and process all food orders, pass invoices for payment and keep all records and stock books as required.
* Prepare, cook, manage and serve school meals.
* Supervise lunch time service and maintain all areas of the kitchen and equipment to required standards of hygiene.
* Wash up, as appropriate, and prepare beverages and refreshments as requested.
* Promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people in accordance with the school's safeguarding and child protection policy.
* Deal with routine enquiries from staff, students and visitors; refer more complex queries to the Headteacher.
* Decide on the school meals to be provided when no menu is specified, under the guidance of the Headteacher.
* Order stock when appropriate.
* Handle and operate a range of kitchen and food preparation equipment (ovens, hobs, food processors, cutting equipment, pans and catering machinery).
Qualifications
* Experience working within a busy catering or kitchen environment.
* Confident in supporting the day‑to‑day running of a catering service.
* Level 2 Food Safety Certificate (Level 3 desirable, with training and support provided if required).
* Minimum basic food and hygiene qualification, preferably City and Guilds 706/1 or equivalent NVQ qualification and experience in school meals provision.
* Experience in supervising and deploying kitchen assistants.
Benefits
* CPD opportunities and training and development programmes.
* Eligibility to join the Local Government Pension Scheme.
* Access to health and wellbeing support.
* Private Healthcare Cash Back Plan including 24/7 access to a GP by phone, gym discounts, cashback for optical, dental and other appointment expenses.
* Access to staff benefits and discounts portal through Dorset Council.
Additional Information
Ferndown Upper School operates an in‑house catering service for over 1,000 students with provision at breakfast, mid‑morning break and lunchtime.
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