Head Chef - Edinburgh 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, Monday-Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm 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 work-life 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 Monday-Friday working pattern with work-life 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 you're a passionate Head Chef who thrives on leadership, creativity, and delivering outstanding service, we'd 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.