Lead School Chef - September Start

Lead School Chef

Location: North West London

Salary: Up to £32,000 per annum

Hours: 7:00am - 3:00pm, Monday to Friday

Contract: Term Time Only

Start Date: September 2026

SANZA Teaching Agency are supporting a warm and welcoming infant school in North West London who are seeking an experienced Lead School Chef to join their team as soon as possible.

This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate and organised school catering professional to take ownership of a busy and well-run kitchen within a nurturing school environment. The school has a strong community feel and places great importance on providing healthy, nutritious meals for its pupils each day.

The successful candidate will play a key role in overseeing the smooth running of the kitchen, ensuring meals are prepared to a high standard whilst maintaining excellent hygiene and food safety practices. Previous school catering experience is essential for this role.

About the School

Welcoming and community-focused infant school
Supportive leadership team and friendly staff culture
Strong emphasis on pupil wellbeing and healthy living
Positive and nurturing environment for both staff and pupils
Well-organised kitchen facilities and established catering provision
Excellent location with strong transport links
Stable and supportive working environment
Term-time only position offering excellent work-life balanceThe Role

The Lead School Chef will oversee the day-to-day running of the school kitchen and ensure the delivery of nutritious, high-quality meals for pupils and staff.

Responsibilities will include:

Planning and preparing healthy meals in line with school food standards
Managing kitchen operations efficiently and safely
Supervising kitchen staff where required
Maintaining high levels of hygiene and cleanliness
Ensuring compliance with food safety regulations and allergen guidance
Managing stock control and placing orders
Monitoring food quality and presentation
Working collaboratively with school leadership and staffThe Ideal Candidate Will Have:

Previous experience working within a school kitchen environment
Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate (or equivalent)
Strong understanding of food safety and allergen management
Excellent organisational and time management skills
The ability to work independently and efficiently
A proactive and positive attitude
Experience managing or leading a kitchen team is desirable
A passion for preparing nutritious meals for childrenWhy Work with SANZA Teaching Agency?

SANZA Teaching Agency are specialists in education recruitment and are proud to support schools and support staff across London. As part of the Tradewind Recruitment Group, we offer a professional, supportive and transparent recruitment experience.

Benefits of working with SANZA include:

Top 100 Company to Work For
PAYE payroll only - no umbrella companies
Dedicated consultant support throughout your placement
Competitive salaries and long-term opportunities
Honest and transparent communication
Access to a wide network of excellent schools
Ongoing support from experienced education recruitersTo apply for this Lead School Chef opportunity, please contact SANZA Teaching Agency today for further information.

SANZA Teaching Agency are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All applicants will be subject to enhanced DBS and reference checks in line with safer recruitment practices.

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Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed