Job Introduction
As Development Chef, you will lead, support, and develop catering managers/chefs to deliver a high-quality catering experience aligned with company standards and financial targets across multiple sites. Plan, organise and oversee events such as cookery workshops, nutritional awareness, parents' evenings, and cultural celebrations to enhance brand visibility and customer experience.
Role Responsibility
- Event Management: Plan and coordinate cookery workshops, parents' evenings, and nutritional awareness events. Handle stock ordering, preparation, and setup. Collaborate with school staff for successful sessions.
- Staff Development: Train, coach, and support new and existing Chef Managers. Provide site visit reports, assist with menu planning, and support team calls and forums.
- Operational Support: Assist with WOW days, mobilisations, supporting the production of new menus including special diet menus, meeting with parents, and school coverage during absences.
- Food Quality & Service: Adapt menus to school needs, ensuring high-quality food and presentation considering cost and nutritional standards. Oversee kitchen management, ordering, and hospitality standards.
- Team Management: Lead, motivate, and train the catering team, fostering a quality-driven and customer-focused environment.
- Compliance & Safety: Ensure adherence to food safety, hygiene, allergen, and health and safety policies.
- Financial Performance: Complete all entries on the company workbook system and achieve sales targets and gross profit margins while controlling labour and sundries costs.
- Customer Satisfaction: Provide a polite, friendly and personal service, striving for nil customer complaints and achieving total customer satisfaction.
The Ideal Candidate
We are looking for somebody who shares our passion for serving great-tasting food and providing excellent service, maintaining the highest standards at all times, along with the following:
Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to work under pressure and use own initiative
- Good financial knowledge
- Confident using IT
- Gross profit and budget understanding
- Experience supervising a team within a kitchen
- Experience working in a customer-focused environment
Education & Qualifications:
- NVQ Level 3 or equivalent
- Intermediate Food Hygiene
- Health & Safety at Work
- Food Craft Qualification & Experience
Other Essential Requirements:
- Full UK Driving Licence
- Clear Enhanced DBS
- Clean and tidy appearance
- Flexible working approach to duties and hours
- Attend training courses as and when required
- Commitment to health and safety
Package Description
The happiness of our employees is paramount. Our friendly kitchen environments will make you feel supported and part of the Miquill family.
Amazing Work-Life Balance:
Monday to Friday working—no more weekends!
40 hours working with no late nights.
52 weeks per year based around school term time (more time to spend with friends and family!).
Your Future Growth:
Work for a fast-growing company that wants you to grow with them.
Benefit from a dedicated L&D team offering apprenticeships and training courses to help you constantly develop your skills.
Ready to start a rewarding career with a company that truly values its team? Apply today!
Please note: All staff must share our commitment of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children/young people, and an enhanced DBS disclosure will be sought by the company.
About the Company
Miquill is a specialist school catering business born out of passion for great-tasting food since 2009. We’re not just serving lunch; we’re all about providing fresh, delicious and exciting food that brings a healthy dose of fun to the school day!
We're a small, independent, Midlands-based company with a genuine family feel. Building strong relationships is key—that means you are important to us! Your well-being, development, and growth opportunities matter. We focus on rewarding our teams and recognising hard work to make sure you feel happy and valued every day.