About the role
HEAD CHEF
Edinburgh Academy Junior School Edinburgh EH3
£35,000 per annum | 40 hours per week | Mainly MondayFriday
Hospitality Doesnt Have to Mean Sacrificing Every Evening and Weekend
If youre a passionate chef looking for better balance without losing creativity, quality, or career progression, this could be the role youve been waiting for.
At Sodexo and Edinburgh Academy Junior School, were creating a catering experience built around fresh, seasonal, nutritious food - while giving our chefs the opportunity to enjoy a healthier worklife balance than traditional hospitality often allows.
With mainly MondayFriday daytime hours, Christmas and New Year off every year, and genuine opportunities to grow your career through Sodexos Culinary Academy, this is a chance to build a long-term future in hospitality without burnout.
If you're and experienced Head Chef looking to step away from relentless restaurant hours, we'd love to hear from you!
The Role
As Head Chef, youll take ownership of a well-supported kitchen operation at Edinburgh Academy Junior School, leading the delivery of high-quality food and hospitality services in a professional and welcoming environment.
This is not a heat and serve catering environment - fresh food and scratch cooking are at the heart of what we do.
Youll lead a dedicated kitchen team, creating healthy, balanced meals using fresh seasonal ingredients while bringing creativity and innovation to menus, events, and hospitality offerings throughout the year.
Youll also play an important role in mentoring and developing your team, helping create a positive kitchen culture where people can thrive and grow.
What Youll Be Doing
Lead and inspire the kitchen team day to day
Deliver fresh, seasonal, nutritious food from scratch
Create menus that are healthy, balanced, and appealing to young people
Bring creativity and innovation to the food offering
Deliver hospitality and special events throughout the school year
Maintain exceptional food safety, allergen, and hygiene standards
Manage stock, ordering, rotas, and kitchen budgets effectively
Support, coach, and develop team members
Work closely with the wider Sodexo culinary network and support teams
About You
Were looking for a chef who genuinely cares about food quality, people, and creating a positive dining experience.
Youll ideally have:
Experience within a busy professional kitchen environment
A passion for fresh food and seasonal cooking
Experience preparing healthy, nutritious meals from quality ingredients
Strong leadership or supervisory experience
Excellent organisational and communication skills
A positive, proactive, and supportive approach
NVQ Level 2/3 (or equivalent)
Food Safety Level 2 or above
**A driving licence and vehicle are no longer essential for this role.**
Why Join Sodexo?
At Sodexo, we invest heavily in our people and believe great hospitality starts with great teams.
Through our Culinary Academy and wider learning programmes, we actively support our chefs to develop their skills, confidence, leadership, and careers. Were passionate about helping our people become not just good at what they do - but truly great.
This role offers both stability and progression within a global organisation that values innovation, development, and wellbeing.
What We Offer
£35,000 salary
Mainly MondayFriday working pattern
7am3:30pm shifts
40 hours per week contract
Christmas & New Year off every year
Evenings and most weekends free
Occasional hospitality events planned in advance throughout the school year
Excellent worklife balance
Career progression and development opportunities
Access to Sodexo Culinary Academy programmes
Supportive and inclusive working culture
Opportunity to build a long-term hospitality career with Sodexo
Ready for a Better Balance?
If youre passionate about fresh food, developing people, and building a rewarding hospitality career with genuine worklife balance, wed love to hear from you.
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.
Please note: This role may close early if a high volume of applications is received.
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