Reporting to:  Operations Manager

Location: Ark Kings Academy

Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: 36 hours per week worked flexibly depending on the service demands between 7am to 3:3opm. Shifts should be altered to oversee service in the evenings, on bank holidays and weekends. 39 weeks’ term time + 2 weeks additional

Salary: [Ark Support Scale 7: Pay Points 23 - 30] £21,480-£27,090 pro rata
Deadline: Monday 29th October at 10:00am
Interviews: Friday 2nd November

Visits to our school are encouraged; to arrange, please call 0121 459 4451.

In 2015, Ark Kings Academy was named as the most improved academy in the country, and was rated ‘Good’ in all areas by Ofsted in October 2016. In 2017 we were lucky enough to be moved into our brand-new school building (home to several impressive new facilities including a new kitchen), and this has enabled us to continue our journey towards becoming a school of excellence.

We are now looking to recruit a Catering Manager who will have an overall responsibility for ensuring the Academy’s quality of dining is outstanding, including; dining operations, budgeting and finance, health and safety, and managing and developing a high functioning catering team.

Job Description: Catering Manager

The Role

You will have overall responsibility for ensuring the Academy’s quality of dining is outstanding, including; dining operations, budgeting and finance, health and safety, and managing and developing a high functioning catering team.

Key Responsibilities

Catering and Kitchen Management

• Deliver an effective catering operation which provides; innovative seasonal menu planning, high quality food, friendly customer service and delivered to an excellent standard, which encourages healthy and nutritional eating habits
• Ensure effective kitchen systems and procedures are in place which monitor, maintain and improve the standards of the product and service including effective communication of allergenic ingredients in all foods served
• Organise and execute internal and external functions, events or theme days, as required
• Responsible for building and maintaining a highly functioning catering team by participating in recruitment and selection, effectively structuring each member’s roles and responsibilities, providing regular training and supporting their wellbeing using Ark’s People policies

Financial / Budget Management

• Develop an annual catering budget and manage the catering function within the set budgetary and gross profit targets, recommending and implementing cost reductions and service improvements
• Produce reports and financial analysis when required
• Ensure effective storage, use and replenishment of food stock and associated records, and follow the Academies purchasing and accounting policies and procedures

Health and Safety

• Ensure that all kitchen and dining area/equipment area are maintained and operated to the standards required by the statutory, local authority and academy health, safety, fire, food and hygiene regulations and policies
• Ensure that a system of HACCP controls is in place and appropriate records are maintained at all times

Other

• Actively promotes the safety and welfare of our children and young people
• Ensures compliance with Arks data protection rules and procedures
• Work with Ark Central and other academies in the Ark network, to establish good practice throughout the network, offering support where required

This job description is not an exhaustive list and you will be expected to carry out any other reasonable tasks as directed by your line manager. 

Person Specification: Catering Manager

Qualifications

• Professional hospitality/catering qualification at L2 or above desirable
• Health & Hygiene Certificate L3
• First Aid qualification, desirable

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Experience catering in large quantities, ideally within a school
• Experience of cultural diversity, with particular reference to food preparation and dietary preferences, desirable
• Knowledge of healthy eating and nutrition and creating related menus
• Experience leading, coaching and motivating staff, ensuring professional development and effectively challenging and managing any underperformance
• Experience setting and managing a catering budget
• Excellent communication skills with children and adults
• High level of proficiency with Microsoft Office

Behaviours

• Genuine passion and interest in food and in helping children learn to eat healthily
• A robust awareness of keeping children safe, noticing safeguarding and welfare concerns, and you understand how and when to take appropriate action.
• Belief that every student should have access to an excellent education regardless of background
• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to motivate and manage others effectively
• Professional outlook, detailed orientated and able to multi task and meet deadlines
• A team player that can work collaboratively as well as using own initiative
• Calm and professional under pressure
• Understanding of the importance of confidentiality and discretion
• Flexible attitude towards work and demonstrates sound judgement

Other

• Right to work in the UK
• Commitment to equality of opportunity and the safeguarding and welfare of all students
• Willingness to undertake training
• This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in our academies.  In order to meet this responsibility, we follow a rigorous selection process. This process is outlined here, but can be provided in more detail if requested. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.