Mobile Cook Manager
Job description
Original text imported from Reed
Mobile Cook Manager based at South Stevenage/Welwyn/Hatfieldand surrounding areas 27.5hpw
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 Cook Manager, you won't just run a kitchen - you'll be hands on leading the team, shaping the culture and setting the standard for quality and service that your school will depend on every day.
Let’s talk about the role of a Mobile Cook Manager:
- Flexible to travel to primary & 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 Cook 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: £15.85 per hour (£19,178 per annum)
Mileage Reimbursement: 45p Per Mile
Hours: 27.5 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 Cook 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 for the role
📊 Quantify your kitchen management experience: 'Managed 15-person team serving 800 meals daily'
🚗 Emphasise your full driving licence and vehicle access as mobile coverage is essential
🍽️ Showcase allergen management expertise as schools require strict dietary compliance
🎯 Mention any school catering experience as HCL serves 16 million meals annually across educational settings
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 kitchen operations across 8 primary schools, ensuring HACCP compliance and serving 1,200 meals daily while maintaining 98% food safety audit scores
- •Led allergen management protocols for 450 students with dietary requirements, implementing temperature monitoring systems that reduced incidents by 85%
- •Developed 12-person kitchen team through NVQ training programmes, achieving 95% staff retention and improving meal preparation efficiency by 25%
Free to copy — tailoring requires a 30-sec CV upload.
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Letter preview — tailored to Hertfordshire Catering Limited T/A HCL
Dear Hiring Manager,
HCL's commitment to serving 16 million meals annually across schools aligns perfectly with my passion for school catering excellence, which is why I am applying for the Mobile Cook Manager position. My Food Hygiene Level 2 certification and HACCP compliance experience make me well-suited to maintain the high standards your schools depend on.
My background in kitchen operations and team leadership has prepared me to manage the mobile nature of this role, from stock control across multiple sites to building positive relationships with school communities. I hold a full driving licence with business insurance and am committed to safeguarding principles.
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Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›How do you ensure HACCP compliance in a school kitchen environment?
- ›Describe your approach to managing food allergens and special dietary requirements
- ›How would you handle stock control and budget management across multiple school sites?
- ›What food safety procedures would you implement for temperature monitoring?
- ›How do you ensure compliance with school food standards regulations?
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 would you build relationships with school staff and students?
- ›Give an example of when you had to adapt quickly to changing circumstances
- ›Tell me about a time you had to manage competing priorities in a busy kitchen
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