Catering Manager

The Belvedere Academy, Liverpool
NOR - 1256 girls (including 311 in Sixth Form)
Catering Manager
Actual salary, 36.2 working weeks £ 31,398 - £34,343 dependent on experience.
Hours: Monday to Friday 6.30am – 3pm, 40 hours per week, term time plus 5 days (36.2 weeks)
Required for immediate start (negotiable).
Closing date for applications: Monday, 16th November 2026
For more information visit: https://belvedereacademy.schoolrecruiter.com/job/catering-manager-1581402
This is an exciting opportunity for the academy to appoint a well-qualified, professional and enthusiastic Catering Manager to lead our catering team; directing the Sous Chef, Chef and wider catering team to create and maintain a high-quality food offer for staff and students. The successful applicant will have overall responsibility for the two academy kitchen areas including Food Safety Management system, creative menu planning, ordering of food/non-food items and dealing with associated paperwork, cooking and staff direction. Full details of responsibilities are included on the job description.
This is a unique opportunity for a dynamic, committed individual to join a truly innovative and successful academy whilst benefiting from family friendly working hours. The role is varied and demanding; Belvedere students expect exciting taste combinations therefore this is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious, creative catering lead to expand the culinary horizon of our school. The successful candidate will embrace interacting with people from different backgrounds whilst effortlessly switching priorities as required in this fast-paced environment.
In 2007, Belvedere was the first independent school to become an academy and is continuing the traditions and standards of its predecessor school. We have high expectations of all our students and we support them with excellent pastoral care. Our extensive Enrichment programme allows pupils to develop into well rounded individuals. In March 2025, Ofsted judged us Outstanding in Behaviour and Attitudes and in Personal Development. We were delighted that they recognised how our “ambitious” curriculum inspired our pupils to be, “ambitious for their futures” within an “inclusive” community in which pupils “can be themselves”.
Children of our staff have a higher priority in our Y7 admissions process - please see the Admissions Policy on our website or call the academy office for further details.

Duties and responsibilities:
To be responsible for the academy catering service to ensure the service provided at each outlet meet the academy's requirements.
To ensure the catering department meets legislative requirements and follows school policies and procedures, i.e. Health and Safety, Food Hygiene, School Food Standards, Allergens, Risk Assessments etc.
To be the Catering Allergen Champion, ensuring highest standards for allergens are delivered and maintained, inc ensuring staff training is completed and all staff are allergen aware.
To act as Health and Safety Coordinator within the academy catering department and ensure representation at any relevant meetings.
To ensure all tasks are carried out with due regard to Health and Safety, food hygiene safety and allergen awareness at all times by all staff.
To direct and support the Sous Chef and Chef with the general kitchen production and service organisation.
To advise and support kitchen staff on the preparation, cooking and presentation of food.
To develop and deliver culinary exciting menus in line with academy and Food School Standards requirements.
To assist with any budget setting and budget reviews as required.
To actively market the services including trialling new menus and organising theme days etc.
To carry out student, parental and staff surveys and respond to feedback.
To lead on the identification of opportunities for both the development of the service and improvements to ensure both a cost effective and quality service.
To be responsible for the organisation of the half termly catering meetings together with the Administration Manager and the academy Finance Director. At these meetings to report on the performance of the catering operation and share any other reports or general issues.
To cater to the requirements of the academy in regard to all school events and meetings.
To ensure budgetary targets are met by appropriate costing of menu items, ordering of foodstuff, managing stock, equipment and control of labour costs.
To assist with the annual setting of the price list and create visuals to share with staff, students and parents via website, posters etc.
To ensure and adjust in conjunction with the Administration Manager and Finance Director, the levels of staffing within the academy catering team so as to ensure an efficient catering service which fulfils the academy's catering requirements. This also includes managing performance and attendance of staff.
To participate in the selection, appointment and induction of new catering staff as authorised.
To implement the agreed accounting procedures with regard to receipt of payments for food and drinks from pupils and visitors to the academy and ensure such procedures are adhered to by all catering staff.
To maintain confidentiality of information acquired in the course of undertaking duties for the academy.
To operate a basic range of IT skills including writing reports, producing menus, software and cashless systems etc.
To have a responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people he/she is responsible for or comes into contact with.
To undertake appropriate professional development including adhering to the academy's performance management process.
To identify and assess training needs and ensure the appropriate training of staff is provided as required including performance management systems.
To carry our regular briefings with the catering team on current organisational and academy issues.
To attend academy staff briefings and any other relevant meetings.
To adhere to the ethos of the academy:
To promote the agreed vision and aims of the academy.
To set an example of personal integrity and professionalism.
Attendance at appropriate staff meetings and academy functions.
Any other duties as commensurate within the grade in order to ensure the smooth running of the catering department and the academy, as directed by the Administration Manager, Finance Director, Catering Consultant or Principal

Person Specification
Qualifications
City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2 or the equivalent experience/ability.
Intermediate Food Hygiene qualification.

Skills and Ability
Able to prepare, cook and present food to academy standards.
Able to provide dietary and culturally acceptable food.
Able to act appropriately on own initiative.
Able to prioritise own workload and meet deadlines.
Able to organise and prioritise the workload of others.
Able to work under pressure whilst maintaining a calm and professional kitchen environment.
Adaptable with a flexible approach to problem solving.
Good written and oral communication skills, to enable ordering and control of stock and completion of necessary paperwork.
Good interpersonal skills with the ability to build good working relationships with colleagues and able to work as part of a team whilst operating with a high degree of integrity at all times.
Good personal presentation, and able to present a positive image of the academy.
Willing to attend and complete any relevant training course as determined by the Catering Consultant or Principal.
Sense of humour.

An Enhanced DBS Disclosure will be required.

Rewards and benefitsof working at Belvedere
Our staff are our greatest asset and staff wellbeing is one of our key priorities. In addition to competitive rates of pay and benefits, we also offer:
Generous holiday (14 days extra per year for teaching staff)
Email curfew 5pm-7am (unless there are safeguarding/wellbeing concerns)
Employee Assistance Programme (Health Assured)
GDST Benefits; Retail and Lifestyle discounts (Pluxee)
Weekly CPD sessions and access to the extensive GDST CPD offer
Opportunity to work/lead across academies and the wider GDST
Principal has an open door policy
Staff Enrichment
Flexible approach to family appointments and child events
More PPA than the local average
Half-termly wellbeing events organised by the Wellbeing Committee including seasonal treats, bacon sandwiches, fortnightly toast, annual Christmas lunch and other staff events
Parcel collection point
Half-termly staff voice group
On-site, free parking
Mental Health Coordinator
HUB groups and HUB breakfasts
High priority in our Y7 admissions process (see Admissions Policy on our website)

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