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Catering Manager
Authentic Education Group Limited, Poole, BH12 4JG14 days remaining to apply
Start date details
ASAP
Closing date
28 October 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
3 September 2026
Job details
Job role
- Catering, cleaning and site management
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Fixed term
Full time equivalent salary
- £35,095.39 Annually (Actual) Term Time plus 3 weeks, Grade 8 SCP 27
Catering Manager job summary
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about excellent food, strong operational management, and driving service improvements within a thriving academy environment. This is a Fixed Term Contract for 6 months.
About the Role
As our Catering Manager, you will:
- Oversee the day-to-day catering operations, ensuring all meals meet National Nutritional Standards.
- Lead, support, and supervise catering staff, including rota management, appraisals and staff development.
- Manage stock, resources, budgeting and cost control to deliver a value-for-money service without compromising quality.
- Develop menus, maintain high standards of food presentation, and ensure a welcoming dining experience.
- Ensure full compliance with Health & Safety, food hygiene, COSHH and safeguarding procedures.
- Build strong relationships with external clients and help grow the department’s commercial opportunities.
- Promote the academy and Trust values in all areas of your practice.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee food preparation, cooking and service.
- Negotiate with authorised suppliers to secure best value contracts.
- Manage catering finances, including revenue, expenditure, stock control and financial reporting.
- Ensure safe operation and maintenance of all kitchen equipment.
- Manage catering delivery arrangements to external academies during term time.
- Conduct risk assessments, maintain cleanliness, and uphold high hygiene standards.
- Support marketing efforts, create promotional materials and liaise with potential new clients.
About You
We are looking for someone who:
- Has proven experience in catering leadership or kitchen management.
- Demonstrates strong organisational, communication and people-management skills.
- Is committed to providing high-quality, nutritious meals.
- Understands financial management in a catering setting.
- Is proactive, reliable and able to work under pressure.
- Shares our values and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our students.
What We have to Offer:
- A visible and approachable senior leadership team and an enthusiastic and committed team of teachers and support staff.
- A strong support network both within the school and across Authentic Education.
- All staff are part of a professional learning community in which evidence-informed CPD is designed to meet individual needs.
- Strong potential for career progression.
- A culture that respects work-life balance and an ongoing commitment to wellbeing with a dedicated Wellbeing Champion.
- An Employee Assistance Programme including in the moment support and counselling sessions with an external provider.
- Staff benefits include free eye testing for DSE users through Specsavers, free will writing through Dunham McCarthy Solicitors and reduced-price corporate gym membership through BH Live.
- A competitive pension through Teachers’ Pensions or The Local Government Pension Scheme for support staff.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Ambitions Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the physical, mental and emotional welfare of every pupil, both inside and outside of the Trust’s premises.
We implement a whole-academy/nursery preventative approach to managing safeguarding concerns, ensuring that the wellbeing of pupils is at the forefront of all action taken.
Ambitions Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Rigorous checks will be made of the successful applicant’s background credentials, including enhanced DBS checks and an online search.
Applying for the job
This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Authentic Education Group Limited
- Type
- Multi-academy trust
Ambitions Academies Trust (AAT) has at its heart the drive for excellence which is under-pinned by high expectations. Ambitions Academies Trust comprises schools from all sectors – mainstream (primary and secondary) and special.
Ambitions Academies Trust exists to secure ‘Outstanding Achievement for All’ for all the communities that it serves. This is underpinned by our values of Inclusivity, Openness and Honesty.
Ambitions Academies Trust mission is laid out in three key strands:
- To ensure all pupils reach their potential by securing outstanding achievement, high standards of social skills and improved life chances.
- To raise standards of teaching and learning by ensuring strong, effective governance and outstanding leadership at all levels
- To achieving outstanding outcomes through the Trust through the efficient use of public funding and assets
We base all that we strive to achieve on our four defining Key Principles:
- To provide and maintain strong, effective governance at all levels of the Trust
- To ensure financial sustainability throughout the Trust
- To ensure future growth does not adversely impact outcomes within the Trust
- To provide leadership and training through Ambitions Teaching School to continue to support schools outside the Trust
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