Key Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery and presentation of food across schools, encouraging teams to showcase their offer and host tastings with clients.
• Engage clients in meaningful conversations around food quality, innovation, and school strategy.
• Create and implement new culinary ideas such as pop-ups, BBQ events, tasting events, and themed food activations.
• Develop innovative, School Food Standards-compliant regional dishes for inclusion on menus.
• Ensure modular menus are implemented correctly using approved recipes from The Source.
• Ensure every school has a relevant and accessible hospitality brochure.

Team Development & Training

• Train culinary teams across all craft levels, reviewing kitchen operations and developing capability at every level.
• Deliver bi-annual unit manager training to support new menu launches and updates.
• Support and coach teams through chef challenges and provide short-term relief support where required.
• Ensure “Tasting Kitchen” and “Recipe Clinics” are embedded across the estate.

Beyond the Kitchen Programme

• Support and guide schools in embedding the Beyond the Kitchen programme.
• Ensure activities are planned, diarised, and delivered consistently.
• Liaise with the Nutrition Team where required.
• Personally deliver selected Beyond the Kitchen activities throughout the year.

Operational & Strategic Support

• Support mobilisation of new contracts.
• Oversee planning of large-scale hospitality events within schools.
• Review and update school strategies during each visit.
• Maintain a strong understanding of purchasing compliance, sourcing, and commercial performance.

Key Relationships

• Chartwells Culinary Director
• Managing Director
• Senior Leadership Team
• Head of Operations
• Regional Managers
• Compass Group UK Food Service Team
• School Clients
• Kitchen Teams
• Catering Managers / General Managers
• Unit Managers

About You

• Genuine passion for food and education catering
• Strong knowledge of food trends and culinary development
• Creative foodservice background
• Experience with purchasing, sourcing, modular menus and recipe systems
• Proven track record of developing and implementing food concepts
• Experience working in fast-paced, forward-thinking environments
• Excellent communication and influencing skills
• Strong coaching and leadership ability
• Ability to build relationships across diverse stakeholder groups
• Strong project management skills
• Knowledge of varied food production methods
• Passion-led approach to school visits, always showcasing the very best food

About Us

Part of Compass Group UK&I, Chartwells is the leading provider of catering and support services to the education sector. For over a quarter of a century, Chartwells has been focusing on helping those in education to build strong bodies, sharp minds and lead long healthy lives. Every week, Chartwells serves millions of nutritious and delicious meals to pupils and students in primary and secondary schools, academies, independent schools, colleges, and universities across the UK. Chartwells is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all employees to share this commitment. Any offer of employment will be subject to successfully completing pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS disclosure and a Children's Barred List check. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and we ask applicants to declare all previous convictions and cautions in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

Job Reference: com/2506/L95301/52816671/SU #State Schools

Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!