Vacancy Reference Number:
OKMC/PR/UK-R1
Position title:
The Open Kitchen Manchester Chef
Reports to:
UK Programmes Manager
Location:
Manchester
Hours of Work:
Part-time, 12- hours per week
Thursday - Sunday (4-Days per week)
Salary guideline:
(Up to) £24.00 per hour which is equivalent to £15,000.00 per annum (commensurate with experience)
Terms of Employment:
12-Months’ Fixed-Term Contract (with a 6-Month Probationary Period)
Application Process & Closing Date:
Send an up to date CV and supporting Covering Letter by Email by no later than 6th March 2026
Approx. Interview & Role Commencement Date(s):
Interviews: As Suitable Applications Received
Start: ASAP thereafter
Note: Strong Applicants may be contacted sooner, ahead of the closing date.
Role: Open Kitchen Chef
About the Project
The Open Kitchen is a community-led initiative tackling food poverty and social isolation across the UK. Our kitchens, based in Hounslow (London), Nottingham, and Manchester, provide free, hot, and nutritious meals to individuals and families affected by homelessness, low income, or displacement as refugees.
Operating seven days a week, the Open Kitchen offers more than just food it provides a safe, welcoming space where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
Each kitchen also serves as a community support hub, distributing essential household items and sleeping bags to those in need.
Through this initiative, we aim not only to alleviate hunger but also to connect service users with pathways to stability, empowerment, and independence.
Key Responsibilities
As part of the Open Kitchen project team, the role will involve ensuring the smooth, safe, and impactful operation of Open Kitchen Manchester.
To lead the delivery of Muslim Hands’s free hot meal provision and structured cooking Facilities, ensuring that local communities can access nutritious hot meals in a safe, welcoming environment while also learning essential cooking skills to make everyday meals from food parcel ingredients. This role will directly contribute to reducing food insecurity, building confidence, and promoting independence among beneficiaries.
Responsibilities include:
* Oversee day-to-day activities within Open Kitchen Manchester, ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality, nutritious meals.
* Plan, prepare, and cook hot meals for O.K’s free weekday lunch meals.
* Ensure all meals are healthy, nutritious, culturally appropriate, and prepared in line with food safety and hygiene regulations.
• Cooking with and preserving large quantities of surplus food.
* Supervise and observe the cooking facility to ensuring compliance with hygiene, health, and safety regulations.
* Manage food inventory, kitchen supplies, and procurement processes to ensure sustainability and efficiency.
* Ensure all food standards are followed.
* Train, and supervise volunteers to ensure effective service delivery and adherence to health and safety standards.
* Design and deliver weekly cooking classes for small groups, teaching participants how to prepare affordable, nutritious meals using food parcel items.
* Taking responsibility for safeguarding, health and safety and all policies relating to hot meals operations .
* Work collaboratively with volunteers, supporting their development and ensuring they are engaged meaningfully in meal preparation and delivery.
* Participant in staff meetings where required.
* Attend training and professional development sessions.
* •Any other ad-hoc tasks as require by your line-manager.
What We're Looking For
* A genuine commitment to serving vulnerable and destitute individuals with care and respect.
* Right to work in the UK and a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check, completed before starting the role.
* Warm interpersonal skills, comfortable engaging with people from all walks of life.
* A dependable, team-oriented attitude and availability for weekend shifts.
Essential skills and experience:
* Professional cooking ability – proven experience preparing nutritious, balanced, and culturally appropriate meals at scale.
* Food safety & hygiene knowledge – Level 2 (or higher) Food Hygiene certificate and thorough understanding of health and safety regulations in kitchens.
* Menu planning & organisation – ability to plan and deliver hot meals within budget and using surplus food creatively.
* Teaching and facilitation skills – experience delivering group cooking sessions, workshops, or training in a practical, engaging way.
* Communication skills – approachable, clear communicator able to engage with people from diverse backgrounds.
* Nutritional awareness – knowledge of affordable, healthy meal preparation, particularly using food parcel ingredients.
* Safeguarding awareness – understanding of safeguarding responsibilities within a community setting.
* Team collaboration – ability to work with, support, and supervise volunteers of varying skill levels.
* Adaptability – confident working with surplus food and adjusting menus to available resources.
* Commitment to values – alignment with Muslim Hands’s mission to address poverty, food insecurity, and inequality
Why Join Us?
As part of the Muslim Hands family, you’ll help create a place of warmth and friendship for those in need. Your presence will extend beyond service, contributing to a deeper mission of compassion, respect, and community uplift.
If you’d like to support others and be part of something truly special, we’d be honoured to receive your application.
NB: This Job Description is illustrative and non-exhaustive in scope. The post-holder may be required to undertake any reasonable tasks as and when required by Line Manager from time to time to reflect the changing needs of the Organisation.