Sous Chef - Prestigious Independent School

Sous Chef – Prestigious Independent School

Hammersmith, West London £41,000 – £43,000 per annum Permanent | Full-Time | Monday–Friday

An excellent opportunity has arisen for an experienced Sous Chef to join the in-house catering team at a prestigious independent secondary school in West London.

This is a senior, hands-on position working closely with the Executive Head Chef and supporting the day-to-day running of a high-quality school kitchen. The catering operation provides fresh lunches for approximately 825 pupils and 250+ staff, alongside private lunches, canapé receptions, dinners and other school functions.

This would suit an experienced Sous Chef, Chef Manager or Head Chef who enjoys producing high-quality fresh food but is looking for a role offering a much better work-life balance than traditional hospitality.

The Role

As Sous Chef, you will act as second-in-command to the Executive Head Chef and help oversee a kitchen team consisting of chefs and kitchen porters.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Supporting and deputising for the Executive Head Chef

• Leading the kitchen team during daily food production and service

• Supervising food preparation, cooking and presentation

• Maintaining consistently high standards of fresh food and presentation

• Assisting with menu planning and development

• Managing stock levels, ordering, rotation and waste

• Supporting food-cost and budget control

• Training, mentoring and supporting junior members of the kitchen team

• Ensuring full compliance with HACCP, COSHH, food hygiene and allergen procedures

• Liaising with the front-of-house team to ensure smooth service

• Supporting catering for private lunches, canapé receptions, dinners and school events

About You

We are looking for an experienced chef with strong kitchen leadership experience who is comfortable remaining hands-on.

You should ideally have:

• Significant experience as a Sous Chef, Head Chef or Chef Manager

• Previous experience supervising or managing a kitchen team

• A recognised professional chef/cookery qualification

• Food Safety/Hygiene qualification – ideally Level 3

• Strong knowledge of HACCP, allergens and kitchen compliance

• Experience with ordering, stock control and food-cost management

• Experience producing fresh food to a consistently high standard

• Confidence deputising for a Head or Executive Chef

• Good communication and organisational skills

Previous experience within an independent school, education catering or another high-quality institutional catering environment would be a strong advantage, particularly where you have also catered for functions and events.

Working Hours

Term time – approximately 36 weeks: Monday–Friday, 7:00am–4:00pm

School holidays – approximately 16 weeks: Monday–Friday, 8:00am–2:30pm

There is a 30-minute unpaid lunch break.

There are occasional evening or weekend school events. Time off in lieu is available for some larger/weekend events.

Benefits

• £41,000–£43,000 salary, depending on experience

• Permanent, 52-week contract

• Monday–Friday working

• Significantly reduced hours during school holidays

• 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays

• Free lunch, tea and coffee

• Contributory pension

• Excellent work-life balance compared with traditional hotel and restaurant kitchens

• Opportunity to join a highly regarded independent school catering operation

Annual leave must generally be taken during school holiday periods