Deputy Group Chef

About the role

The Deputy Group Chef supports the Group Chef in delivering high‑quality, nutritious food across multiple school sites in the South East. Working field‑based across St Albans, Potters Bar and Borehamwood, you will help keep kitchens fully staffed, safe and operational while upholding HCL’s standards of excellence.

Key responsibilities

• Assist with deployment and rota planning for a mobile catering team to ensure full staffing levels.
• Partner with the Group Chef on line‑management duties, including training, performance monitoring and HR compliance.
• Provide hands‑on kitchen support, maintain food quality, and monitor food cost, labour and waste.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, health & safety and allergen management across all sites.
• Support recruitment, retention and onboarding of mobile team members.
• Help with new site set‑ups, equipment installation and system implementation.

Required profile

• Experienced chef or kitchen manager, preferably with multi‑site or mobile catering experience.
• Strong leadership and team‑development abilities.
• Solid knowledge of food safety, health & safety and allergen regulations.
• Organised, adaptable and able to travel between locations.
• Passionate about food quality and customer service.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel.

Required skills

• Food safety management
• Health & safety compliance
• Allergen management
• Food cost control
• Labour cost monitoring
• Waste reduction

What we offer

• Competitive salary (£33,853‑£35,285 pro rata)
• 35‑hour week on a term‑time schedule (39 weeks per year)
• Field‑based work across St Albans, Potters Bar and Borehamwood
• Opportunity to lead and develop a mobile catering workforce