Education Authority Northern Ireland
Mobile Catering Manager - 5 Posts - Lisburn Area
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Mobile Catering Manager - 5 Posts - Lisburn Area
Catering Manager
Role Overview
Reports to: Regional Operations Manager Responsible for: Catering Team Members
Job Purpose: The Catering Manager ensures the efficient day-to-day management of the kitchen.Strong leadership and teamwork are essential to deliver a quality catering service to children, young people, and staff.
Main Duties & Responsibilities
Service Delivery
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Execute skilled cooking activities, menu planning, and food preparation, including:
- Portion control and food presentation
- Special dietary meals (including IDDSI texture modification for special diets, allergens, and ethnic diets)
- Theme days/event catering and function services
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Organise and oversee all food service aspects, including:
- Service point operations and meal transportation
- Dining centre and production kitchen management
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Ensure strict adherence to EA food safety policies and legislative requirements:
- Allergen and dietary updates via the Allergen Matrix
- Accurate food temperature recording
- Stock control, ordering, and storage to minimize waste
- Equipment safety and maintenance, reporting defects promptly
- Fire, damage, pest, or food safety incident reporting
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Promote the catering service through parents, staff, and students to maximise meal uptake, including through events and promotions.
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Establish strong communication channels with schools to ensure service delivery excellence.
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Investigate and escalate customer/complaint issues to the Regional Operations Manager.
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Conduct internal risk assessments, including fire risk assessments.
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Maintain a professional and supportive environment while handling feedback/complaints sensitively.
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Undertake residency duties as assigned by the Regional Operations Manager.
People Management
- Manage catering teams to deliver high-quality service.
- Supervise and allocate duties for staff, including:
- Catering assistants and transport personnel (if applicable)
- Regular visits to dining centres for operational oversight
- Enforce staff policies, including disciplinary matters, personnel management, and attendance:
- Manage disciplinary and grievance processes
- Monitor absences and conduct Return-to-Work Interviews
- Participate in staff recruitment, selection, and training for catering units
- Oversee induction of new/relief staff and probationary monitoring
- Ensure training compliance:
- Annual refresher training completion
- Accurate staff training record-keeping
- Effective team communication via staff meetings
- Assess staff performance, conduct appraisals, and set performance targets.
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Financial Responsibilities
- Monitor catering unit financials and maintain budgetary control.
- Perform essential clerical duties:
- Ordering supplies, accident reporting, and bookkeeping
- Cash transaction management with compliance to EA financial procedures
- Calculate and manage resources (food, labour, equipment, overheads) while ensuring cost efficiency.
General Responsibilities
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Compliance with legal requirements:
- Acts, Statutory Regulations, and HACCP, COSHH, Natasha’s Law.
- Adherence to Health, Safety & Hygiene standards.
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Administrative tasks as assigned.
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Maintain personal hygiene and professional appearance, ensuring EA uniform compliance for all staff.
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Participate in scheduled training/sessions, including during school periods.
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Align with EA’s values and staff code of conduct to promote inclusivity and professionalism.
Person Specification
Section 1 – Essential Criteria for Shortlisting
(All must be demonstrated on the application form.)
Qualifications & Experience
- Level 2 NVQ in food preparation and cooking (or City & Guilds 706-1 & 706-2 equivalent) OR
- Two years’ experience in catering food preparation/cooking.
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Leadership within catering:
- Proven experience in supervising/managing catering teams.
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Financial expertise:
- Budget management, financial controls, and stock control experience.
Knowledge
- HACCP Knowledge
- Special diet provision: Allergen and ethnic dietary requirements.
Other Requirements
- Willingness to undertake job-related training.
- Wholly or partially provide/access to a suitable transport solution (for role mobility requirements).
Section 2 – Essential Criteria for Interview Assessment
(Delivered via EA’s Game-Changing People Model.)
Skills & Abilities
- Leadership & Team Management: Ability to motivate, develop, and inspire teams.
- Communication: Interpersonal skills for effective collaboration with teams, management, staff, and stakeholders.
- Planning & Organisation: Exhibits problem-solving, decision-making, and resiliency under pressure.
- Sales-Driven: Ability to promote meal uptake through sales initiatives.
- Customer Service: Commitment to excellence in service delivery for children/young people.
- Team Player: Willingness to collaborate across teams.
Values
- Applicants must embed EA’s ethos into their work approach (see Ethos values link).
Section 3 – Desirable Criteria
(Shortlisting may apply these in order.)
Experience & Skills
- IT proficiency: Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, and Microsoft Teams.
- Training Experience: Ability to design and deliver training programs.
Note: Disclosure of Criminal Background Required for this role (Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act).
Equal Opportunities Employer
The Education Authority adheres to equality legislation. All applicants must provide supporting evidence in their application to demonstrate consideration of the essential and desirable criteria.
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