Head Chef – School Catering (Temporary) – Great Wakering (15 minutes drive from Southend, or 30 minutes drive from Basildon)

£22.00 per hour

Holiday pay is accrued separately

Weekly pay – every Friday

Flexible hours via our app

Appetite4Work is hiring an experienced Head Chef for a temporary position in a school catering setting in Great Wakering. This Head Chef role is ideal for someone with experience in education or contract catering who can confidently run a kitchen and deliver high-quality meals.

You’ll be covering the school’s current catering manager while they are on leave, with work starting 2nd June (handover week with the current head chef) and running through to at least 24th July. There is potential for return work from 1st September, depending on business needs.

What you’ll be doing as Head Chef:

Oversee the day-to-day running of the school kitchen
Supervise and support kitchen assistants and catering staff
Cook and serve meals that meet nutritional and food safety standards
Maintain compliance with all hygiene, allergen, and food safety procedures
Monitor stock levels and order supplies as needed
Liaise with on-site staff to ensure smooth meal service

What we’re looking for:

Proven experience as a Head Chef, Kitchen Manager, or Cook Supervisor (ideally in school, care, or education environments)
Confidence in managing a kitchen independently
Enhanced DBS check for the child workforce (must be valid or registered on the Update Service)
Strong knowledge of food safety and allergen regulations
Professional and presentable, with excellent timekeeping

What you’ll get:

£22.00 per hour
Weekly pay, every Friday
Holiday pay is accrued separately in line with UK regulations
Zero-hour, flexible contract
Flexible shift picking through our easy-to-use app
Dedicated consultant support from Appetite4Work

Location benefits:

Great Wakering is just a 15-minute drive from Southend and around 35 minutes from Basildon, making it ideal for anyone based nearby and looking for daytime hours in a school setting.

Apply now to join Appetite4Work and step into a rewarding, flexible Head Chef role.