Assistant Cook - Lead with Passion, Cook with Purpose!Location: Oasis Academy MediaCity UK, King William Street, Salford, Greater Manchester M50 3UQSalary:£12.88 per hourHours: 27.5 hoursWorking Pattern: Monday to Friday 8am to 1:30pmAre you ready to take the lead in a kitchen where food fuels not just bodies but bright futures? As a Assistant Cookfor Sodexo, you'll play a key role in the school kitchen, supporting the preparation and service of high-quality meals for students and staff. Working alongside the catering team, you'll help maintain excellent food standards, ensure kitchen cleanliness and food safety compliance, and contribute to a positive dining experience. You'll also support stock control, food presentation, and daily kitchen operations in a busy environment. 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:Oversee meal preparation, presentation, and replenishment to deliver high-quality food and excellent customer service for students, staff, and visitorsLead, train, and motivate kitchen staff while maintaining professional standards and a positive team cultureManage catering operations, including labour, food, stock, and budget controls to meet client and commercial expectationsDrive meal uptake through innovative food presentation, Discovery Tables, classroom tastings, and seasonal marketing campaignsEnsure all meals meet allergen, dietary, food hygiene, health & safety, and fire safety standards, maintaining audit-ready compliance and Green Safeguard standardsMaintain Food for Life records and standards to support successful annual auditsOrganise special functions and events, including occasional out-of-hours supportConduct regular operational and food safety audits and complete all required administration and reporting accurately and on timeBuild strong relationships with clients, colleagues, and stakeholders while supporting training and company initiativesWhat You Bring:Essential:Experience cooking on a large scale (100–1300 students)Experience following recipes in a professional kitchenPrior staff supervision or line management experienceStrong knowledge of fresh food preparation, recipes, allergens, and food safety regulationsUnderstanding of health and safety regulations and the ability to enforce themAbility to work under pressure in a busy kitchen environmentPositive leadership, professionalism, and a passion for foodHold basic food handling certifications, including:NVQ Level 2Level 2 Food Safety CertificateAt least one year of hands-on cooking experience (Training in Food Hygiene and Health & Safety provided)What We Offer:A dynamic and supportive work environmentCompetitive salary and benefitsFull training and protective uniform providedNo unsociable hours and public holidays off—including Christmas!Unlimited access to mental health and wellbeing supportEmployee Assistance Programme for legal, financial, and personal supportDiscounts, cashback schemes, and financial benefitsCareer progression, learning opportunities, and apprenticeshipsCycle to Work Scheme and volunteering opportunitiesAt 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.