About The Role
Chef Manager
Reports to: Estates & Operations Director
Start date: November 2025
Salary: £36,291 - £38,596 (Ark Support Pay Grade 8, Points 20-24)
Contract: Permanent
Working hours: Term-time only (39 weeks) + 2 weeks, Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 4pm
Closing Date: Monday, 20th October 2025.
The Role:
To provide leadership and management of the Academy’s catering provision, including Health and Safety and Training and Development, to ensure the delivery of an efficient, cost effective and high-quality service.
To successfully manage the delivery of the highest possible standards of food and service to pupils, staff and customers at all times within pre-agreed budgetary targets.
To continuously develop the catering service at the Academy through the introduction of innovation and interest, whilst being mindful that all new innovation must be to the benefit of the health and wellbeing of the pupils and the promotion of a healthy well-balanced lifestyle.
To prepare, with the Estates & Operations Director, an Annual Business Plan that incorporates a detailed Annual Budget against which the Catering Department will be reviewed monthly.
The ideal candidate will:
* have the experience, energy and personality to lead by example and bring continuous innovation, vibrancy and development to the service provision;
* be committed to delivering high quality, healthy food within a set budget;
* have the ability to train and inspire a team of catering staff with a hands on leadership style;
* have a positive attitude and excellent communication skills;
* be financially astute and able to build relationships with suppliers to achieve value for money;
* be IT literate;
* be committed to Bolingbroke Academy’s ethos of high expectations
Benefits:
* Weekly CPD sessions and twice as many training days as standard.
* Dedicated line management meetings
* Encouragement to staff to develop their own ideas and projects within their departments and beyond.
* Generous pension scheme.
* Access to Ark rewards – a scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers
* Interest-free loans – up to £5,000 available for season ticket or to buy a bicycle.
* Access to Employee Assistance Programme – providing free, confidential counselling, legal advice and a range of different support.
Find out more about the benefits of working for Ark at .
About Us
At Ark Bolingbroke Academy, we are a courageous, compassionate community - empowering excellence. We are a value lead organisation, being bold within every aspect of our lives at school.
Our talented teaching and support staff insist on high educational standards every single day, and their commitment is shown in our excellent results, with over 80% of our students achieving a top-third university or top 100 apprenticeship.
We want all staff to thrive, modelling leadership and determination to the pupils and students within our rich and diverse academy, working together to fulfil our vision of creating a centre of excellence within our local community.
Visit to learn more about us and see our current vacancies.
Diversity and inclusion:
We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.
Safeguarding statement:
Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.
Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link.
Please note we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this role may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. We strongly encourage to submit your application at your earliest convenience.