Do you have experience working in catering or hospitality and possess excellent craft skills? Are you understanding of the differing needs of young people with special educational needs? Are you a passionate advocate for healthy and balanced eating? If so, we'd love to hear from you!
We are seeking a Catering Development Officer to operate within a busy kitchen environment, providing staffing support and supervising the team to deliver healthy, freshly prepared school meals for pupils and staff.
Are you keen to learn more about a rewarding career in Catering?
Salary: £25,449 to £27,621 per annum (calculated to term time only)
Contract Type: Permanent, Term Time Only (39 weeks)
Working Pattern: Full-time (37 hours per week)
Base Location: County Hall, West Street, Chichester, PO19 1RQ; County Hall North, Chart Way, Horsham RH12 1XH; or Bridge House, Barrington Rd, Goring-by-Sea, Worthing BN12 4SE (Hybrid and Flexible Working) with countywide travel.
Interview Date: Friday 12 September 2025
The successful candidate will be expected to travel and work across various schools throughout West Sussex. There may be occasions when work from a County Council building is required. Additionally, there will be opportunities to work from home and/or remotely. Final arrangements will be confirmed with the successful candidate.
About the Job
Our work in Catering can vary greatly from day to day. Key responsibilities include:
1. Travel to schools to provide support and emergency coverage for catering assistants and cook supervisors.
2. Delivering tasks to a high standard within agreed timescales.
3. Monitoring and addressing issues related to Health and Safety at Work Act and Food Hygiene Regulations.
4. Assisting with menu development and creating special diet menus, including policy input, stakeholder feedback, and improvements in collaboration with the Senior Catering Officer.
5. Supporting team members' development: embracing a flexible and positive approach to supervision, inspiring growth and confidence.
We offer a term-time only contract supporting a healthy work/life balance, an excellent pension scheme, and a wide range of staff discounts. Join us and enjoy a rewarding career!
We would love to hear from you if you have:
* City & Guilds 706/1 & 2 or NVQ Level 3 in Catering, or equivalent qualification, or demonstrable relevant experience.
* Minimum Level 2 Food Safety certification, with Level 3 preferred.
* A valid driving licence, as many locations are rural.
* Knowledge of Food Hygiene and Health and Safety legislation.
* Familiarity with School Food Standards and dietary requirements.
* Understanding of menu planning and recipe development.
* Experience with ordering, costing, and stock control, making value-conscious decisions.
* Proven experience in large-scale catering, preparing and cooking from scratch.
* Experience supervising or managing a catering team.
For more details, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Rewards and Benefits
We aim to create a supportive environment where employees can achieve their potential and work-life balance. Benefits include:
* A Term Time Only contract.
* Flexible working options.
* Maternity, paternity, dependency, and adoption leave.
* Volunteering, training, and development opportunities.
* Staff discounts on groceries, travel, cinema tickets, leisure activities, and more.
* Health and wellbeing benefits, including Employee Assistance Programme and Mental Health support.
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