Chef Manager - INTERNAL ONLY

Location: Dunstable

Salary: Between £34,420 and £37,900 per annum DOE and Qualifications

Expires: 30/06/2026 23:59

Role: Chef Manager – INTERNAL ONLY

Location: Central Bedfordshire College – Dunstable Kingsway Campus

Salary/Benefits: Salary is between £34,420 and £37,900 per annum DOE and Qualifications, 27 days annual leave plus Bank holidays, People’s pension, Retail and Leisure Discounts, excellent professional and personal development opportunities, accessing college courses.

Note – Salary and Annual Leave entitlement is for that of a Qualified Lecturer.

Hours/Weeks: 37 hours per week – 52 weeks per year

Contract Type: Fixed Term – Full Time – Fixed until 01 March 2027 with the possibility to extend

This is a UK based contract , and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK . Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.

About The Role

We are currently seeking a Chef Manager to join our Catering and Hospitality department at The Bedford College Group .

As a Chef Manager, you play an important role in the success of our students through:

• Kitchen Operations & Food Production - Support the Catering Manager in planning and delivering daily kitchen operations, including menu creation, food preparation, stock control, and maintaining high food quality standards.
• Cost Control & Efficiency - Manage food costs effectively through budgeting, portion control, waste management, and accurate ordering, ensuring targets are achieved.
• Team Leadership & Development - Supervise and support the kitchen team, acting as a role model, providing training, and fostering a positive, high-performing working environment.
• Customer Service & Experience - Ensure excellent service delivery, resolve complaints, support hospitality requirements, and engage with customers to exceed expectations.
• Compliance & Health & Safety - Maintain high standards of hygiene and cleanliness, ensure adherence to HACCP and safety regulations, and uphold safeguarding, EDI, and training responsibilities.

About You

• Qualifications & Industry Experience - Level 2 catering qualification (or equivalent experience), hygiene certificate, GCSE English and Maths (or willingness), with strong experience in large-scale kitchen operations and supervision.
• Culinary & Technical Expertise - Skilled in food preparation, flavour development, presentation, menu structure, and food cost management, with knowledge of hospitality trends and quality standards.
• Leadership & Team Management - Proven ability to lead, train, and motivate teams, manage performance, and deliver results while fostering a positive and inclusive working environment.
• Organisation & Commercial Awareness - Strong planning, budgeting, and organisational skills with attention to detail, IT proficiency, and the ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Professionalism & Flexibility - Proactive, reliable, and adaptable, with commitment to safeguarding, health & safety, continuous development, and maintaining professional standards across all sites.

For a more detailed breakdown of the job role and the requirements, please see the Job Description attached to this vacancy.

If you do not hold a recognised, qualified teaching qualification, please see attached PGCE CertEd information.

Interviews to be held: TBC

Successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate alignment to our organisational

VISION values:

• Valuing Teamwork - We are one team who by working together can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
• Improving Continuously - We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
• Student Centred - At our heart is always doing what is best for our students. We consider students in all of our decision making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
• Inclusive - We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
• Open and Caring - We care about the wellbeing of our staff, our students, our community and wider society, creating an environment built on trust where we listen, engage with and support each other.
• Nurturing Education Excellence - We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.

About The Bedford College Group

The Bedford College Group was formed in 2017 following the merger of Bedford College and Tresham College and is now the largest provider of education in the South East Midlands, with over 15,000 students passing through our doors each year.

Today, the Group is made up of a family of colleges across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire: Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College and Tresham College in the towns of Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough; Shuttleworth College, a specialist land-based college; The Bedford Sixth Form, (the only dedicated sixth form in Bedford); The Corby Sixth Form, (opened in September 2023); and the National College for Motorsport alongside Silverstone race circuit. To widen accessibility to education and training, the Group also has community-based Learning Centres in Bedford, Corby and Kettering which offer IT training.

Safeguarding our Students

The Bedford College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to thorough vetting process which includes, an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide. The Bedford College Group's policy on Employment of Ex-Offenders is attached to this vacancy.

Candidates who are barred from working with children are reminded it is a criminal offence to apply for this post.

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