Assistant Cook

Are 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 visitors
• Lead, train, and motivate kitchen staff while maintaining professional standards and a positive team culture
• Manage catering operations, including labour, food, stock, and budget controls to meet client and commercial expectations
• Drive meal uptake through innovative food presentation, Discovery Tables, classroom tastings, and seasonal marketing campaigns
• Ensure all meals meet allergen, dietary, food hygiene, health & safety, and fire safety standards, maintaining audit-ready compliance and Green Safeguard standards
• Maintain Food for Life records and standards to support successful annual audits
• Organise special functions and events, including occasional out-of-hours support
• Conduct regular operational and food safety audits and complete all required administration and reporting accurately and on time
• Build strong relationships with clients, colleagues, and stakeholders while supporting training and company initiatives
  
  Experience cooking on a large scale (100-1300 students)
• Experience following recipes in a professional kitchen
• Prior staff supervision or line management experience
• Strong knowledge of fresh food preparation, recipes, allergens, and food safety regulations
• Understanding of health and safety regulations and the ability to enforce them
• Ability to work under pressure in a busy kitchen environment
• Positive leadership, professionalism, and a passion for food
• Hold basic food handling certifications, including:
+ NVQ Level 2 + Level 2 Food Safety Certificate
• At least one year of hands-on cooking experience (Training in Food Hygiene and Health & Safety provided)
  
  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.


• Competitive salary and benefits
• Full training and protective uniform provided
• No unsociable hours and public holidays off-including Christmas!
• Unlimited access to mental health and wellbeing support
• Employee Assistance Programme for legal, financial, and personal support
• Discounts, cashback schemes, and financial benefits
• Career progression, learning opportunities, and apprenticeships
• Cycle to Work Scheme and volunteering opportunities
At 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!