For full details and to apply for this vacancy, please visit the MyNewTerm website:
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Start Date: 03 November 2025
Salary: Band D, £32,597 - £37,280 Full Time Equivalent. Actual salary range for full time, 39 weeks per year £27,944 - £31,958
Contract: Permanent, term time including all inset days - 39 weeks per year
Working Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday:
· Monday 6:45am - 2:45pm
· Tuesday 7am – 2:45pm
· Wednesday 6:45am – 2:45pm
· Thursday 6:45am – 2:45pm
· Friday 7am – 2:45pm
Every day includes a 30-minute unpaid lunch break
AMAT Catering Services is part of Arden Multi Academy trust, a group of schools providing excellent education to children and young people within Solihull and the local area. Our Catering team are proud of delivering delicious, health school meals using locally sourced, high-quality ingredients to pupils within all our schools. This post is based at Lode Heath School in Solihull.
The post holder will manage a team of catering assistants and oversee the preparation and serving of meals, refreshments and other catering services at Lode Heath School (1200 students). If you, therefore, have a background in catering management and have a proven record in the provision of good quality food, within highly restricted time periods, offering great value and providing a profit margin for reinvestment into the school catering services; then we would love to hear from you.
Main purpose of the role:
* To be responsible and accountable for the Catering operations within the school; reporting to the Area Catering Manager.
* Be responsible for monitoring the quality of the food and service and for making sure that the school canteen is performing as required by the Area Catering Manager.
* Be responsible for the line management of the Catering Assistants within the team, in conjunction with the Deputy Catering Manager.
* Achieve good quality and variety of food options within budget and time constraints
* Be responsible for ensuring that all members of the catering team are aware of their Food Safety and Health & Safety responsibilities and be the contact point for Food Safety and Health & Safety issues.
The key responsibilities for this post are as follows (a job description and person specification is available):
* Planning menus
* Ordering supplies
* Hiring, training, supervising and motivating staff
* Organising staff rotas
* Managing and recording sickness absence
* Ensuring health and safety regulations are strictly observed, recorded and archived
* Monitoring the quality of the product and service provided
* Keeping to budgets and maintaining financial and administrative records.
* Food preparation
Key Skills required:
* Strong organisational and time management skills
* The ability to manage and lead a diverse team
* A strong focus on customer service
* Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills
* The ability to work flexibly and operate under strict time constraints
* Good business and commercial acumen
* Managing budgets, costs and stock-taking skills
* Knowledge of food, food hygiene (including hazard analysis) and food preparation.
Qualifications
* Relevant Level 2 Food Hygiene qualification and willingness to undertake Level 3
* Health and Safety training
In return we can offer you:
* Free uniform
* Safety shoe allowance
* Free daily lunch
* A school environment where enthusiastic students enjoy learning and engage positively in all aspects of school life
* A collaborative and supportive attitude amongst staff which promotes a sense of teamwork and unity
* A Senior Leadership team who is committed to promoting the best environment and outcomes for staff and students
* West Midlands Local Government Pension and Cycle to Work scheme
Further information about Arden Multi Academy Trust is available here:
For full details and to apply for this vacancy, please visit the MyNewTerm website:
Arden Multi Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all its staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We welcome applications regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexuality or religion. The successful applicant will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS Disclosure and, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education, will be subject to a social media online search.
Closing Date: Wednesday 24th September :00am)
Interviews: Tuesday 30th September 2025 (times tbc) - candidates successful to the interview stage will be contacted.
Job Types: Permanent, Full-time
Pay: £32,597.00-£37,280.00 per year
Benefits:
* Company pension
* Cycle to work scheme
* Discounted or free food
* On-site parking
* Sick pay
Work Location: In person