Chef Manager
Job description
Original text imported from Reed
Mobile Chef Manager based at Bishop Stortford Hoddesdon East Essex and surrounding areas 37 hours per week
At HCL SAFEGUARDING IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.The safety of children and young people is at the heart of everything we do.
About us:
At HCL, we're more than just a caterer. We proudly serve over 16 million meals a year, delivering outstanding dining experiences across schools and the commercial sector.
As a mobile Chef Manager, you will lead the preparation and service of fresh, nutritious meals, ensuring students and staff enjoy high-quality food and excellent service every day.
Let’s talk about the role of a Mobile Chef Manager:
- Flexible to travel to Secondary schools to provide support services as required
- Lead and manage the day-to-day kitchen operations
- Prepare, and deliver fresh, nutritious meals
- Oversee stock control, ordering, and budget management
- Ensure compliance with food safety, hygiene, and health & safety regulations
- Monitor food quality, presentation, and portion control
- Manage allergen awareness and cater for special dietary requirements
- Build positive relationships with staff, students, and the wider school community
- Maintain accurate records (e.g. HACCP, temperature checks, audits)
- Inspiring and developing your team, creating an environment where people grow and thrive
About the Ideal Mobile Chef Manager:
- Committed to safeguarding children and young people
- Food Hygiene Level 2 certificate (required)
- NVQ Level 2/3 is highly desirable
- Passionate about delivering fresh, nutritious meals
- An experienced leader who can motivate and develop a high-performing team
- Well-organised, with strong planning and time management skills
- Confident managing budgets, stock, and kitchen operations
- Knowledgeable in food safety, allergens, and school food standards
- Committed to maintaining high standards of hygiene and compliance
- Proactive, flexible, and able to work in a fast-paced environment
- Dedicated to providing an excellent dining experience every day
Essential Vehicle Requirements:
- Full valid driving licence
- Business insurance
- Valid MOT and road tax
- Access to your own vehicle
Why join us?
Joining Bonus: £1000 (T&Cs apply)
Salary: £17.55 per hour (£28,567 per annum)
Hours: 37 hours per week - No Weekends, No Late Nights
Schedule: Term Time Only – Enjoy all School Holidays off
Uniform provided
Rewards: Spread the Word & Earn Up to £500 - Refer a Friend! (T&Cs apply)
Succeed with us: Career progression opportunities
Excusive discounts: via VIVUP for supermarkets, cinemas, retail, dining, hotels, and family activities
Wellbeing matters: Support through EAP & Financial Support via Stream
Safeguarding: Enhanced DBS Disclosure paid by HCL - No Cost to You
If you're passionate, driven and ready to grow, we'd love to hear from you. Take the first step and apply online- your Mobile Chef Manager career with HCL starts here.
Key skills
AI-extracted from the job advert
Application advice
5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.
⭐ Highlight your Food Hygiene Level 2 certificate prominently as this is explicitly required by HCL
📊 Quantify your kitchen management experience: 'Managed 200+ meal services daily, maintaining 98% food safety compliance'
🚗 Emphasise your full driving licence and vehicle access as mobile role requires travel across East Hertfordshire
🎯 Showcase your safeguarding commitment and Enhanced DBS status as HCL states safeguarding is their number one priority
🤝 Demonstrate your experience with school catering and understanding of nutritional requirements for young people
Suggested CV bullets
3 bullets our AI drafted for this specific advert, mirroring its ATS keywords.
Add these 3 bullets under your most recent experience:
- •Managed mobile catering operations across 8 secondary schools, serving 1,200+ meals daily while maintaining 100% food safety compliance
- •Led kitchen team of 12 staff members, implementing HACCP procedures that reduced food waste by 15% and improved audit scores to 98%
- •Controlled £180k annual food budget across multiple sites, negotiating supplier contracts that delivered 8% cost savings while maintaining quality standards
Free to copy — tailoring requires a 30-sec CV upload.
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We've drafted a cover letter for Hertfordshire Catering Limited T/A HCL. Preview the opening, then unlock the full personalised version.
Letter preview — tailored to Hertfordshire Catering Limited T/A HCL
Dear Hiring Manager,
HCL's commitment to serving 16 million nutritious meals annually across Hertfordshire schools aligns perfectly with my passion for school catering excellence. With my Food Hygiene Level 2 certification and mobile kitchen management experience, I am well-positioned to lead your Bishop Stortford and Hoddesdon operations while maintaining the safeguarding standards that are HCL's top priority.
My background in managing multi-site catering operations has equipped me with the skills to oversee stock control, ensure HACCP compliance, and develop high-performing kitchen teams across various locations. I understand the unique challenges of mobile catering and the importance of building positive relationships within school communities.
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Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›How do you ensure HACCP compliance in a mobile catering environment?
- ›What steps do you take to manage allergen risks in school kitchens?
- ›How do you maintain food safety standards when working across multiple sites?
- ›Describe your approach to stock control and budget management in catering operations
- ›How do you ensure compliance with school food standards and nutritional guidelines?
Behavioural
- ›Tell me about a time you had to motivate an underperforming kitchen team
- ›Describe a situation where you had to handle a food safety incident
- ›How do you build positive relationships with school staff and students?
- ›Give an example of when you had to adapt quickly to changing requirements
- ›Tell me about a time you implemented improvements to kitchen operations
STAR answer examples
Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.
Tell me about a time you had to motivate an underperforming kitchen team
Describe a situation where you had to handle a food safety incident