Catering Lead

Humber Recruitment are seeking a Catering Lead on behalf of one of our valued client based in Grimsby.

THE ROLE

The client are all about tasty food, great service, and creating a space where young people feel right at home. Their café is a big part of what makes their facility special – it’s not just about meals, it’s about community. Whether you’re cooking up affordable, healthy dishes, chatting with young people in the café or leading the team behind the scenes, you’ll be helping to create a welcoming, inclusive space for members aged 8 to 19 (or up to 25 with additional needs).

They’re open evenings, weekends, and school holidays – and for many, this place is like a second home. Their catering team plays a key role in making sure it’s a place they want to come back to again and again! You’ll be a crucial part of this new facility for Grimsby, welcoming up to 250 young people each session and creating a space where they can thrive.

ALL EMPLOYEES ARE EXPECTED TO:

• Be a role model for young people, present a positive ‘can-do’ attitude and take personal responsibility for your own actions
• Work within the performance framework of the charity and live the values of the client, contributing to a culture of high performance, continuous improvement and a young person first, team always ethos
• Represent and promote the facility positively and effectively in all dealings with internal colleagues and external partners, assist with any promotional activities and visits that take place at the facility

JOB DESCRIPTION

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare tasty, nutritious meals and snacks that suit different tastes and dietary needs
• Serve up affordable food with a smile and get involved in themed food events and activities that celebrate cultures, occasions, or just great food!
• Chat with young people in the café space, making them feel at home
• Keep the kitchen and café clean, safe, and running like clockwork
• Follow food hygiene and safety guidelines – we take this seriously, but we don’t overcomplicate it
• Regularly check and report any kitchen equipment faults, and flag health and safety issues as needed
• Help with stock control, ordering supplies, and keeping the kitchen well-equipped and cost-efficient
• Bring ideas for improving food service – whether that’s a new snack, a better process, or something to cut down on waste
• Pitch in with admin tasks like kitchen schedules, food records, or anything else that helps the team stay organised
• Take on any other reasonable duties that come up – The facility is a fast-moving place, and we all roll up our sleeves when needed
• Plan menus that are creative, low-cost, and packed with goodness – and always keep young people’s tastes in mind
• Lead the Team by creating a supportive, fun, and organised kitchen environment
• Oversee kitchen operations, making sure everything meets food safety and hygiene standards
• Stay organised with stock, budgeting, and waste reduction – making sure we’re efficient and sustainable
• Admin management – from food safety logs to inventory tracking and compliance tasks

Safety and Safeguarding

• Safe Environment: Ensure the facility is a safe, welcoming place for young people, maintaining high standards of behaviour
• Safeguarding Management: Be alert to issues of safeguarding and child protection, ensuring the welfare and safety of the facility members is promoted and safeguarded, and to report any child protection concerns to the designated Child Protection Officers using policies, procedures, and practice

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the experience, skills, knowledge and aptitudes listed below throughout the recruitment process. However, if you don’t meet every single requirement but feel you have strong and relevant transferrable skills or lived experience to draw from, we encourage you to apply anyway. Why? Studies have shown that women and Black, Asian, Mixed Race & other ethnically diverse people are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single criteria/competency. The client is dedicated to driving change and to building diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplaces, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly, please tell us how your experience is transferrable.

YOU MAY BE JUST THE RIGHT CANDIDATE!

SELECTION CRITERIA

Experience

• Experience of working in a kitchen or catering environment
• A good understanding of food hygiene, health and safety and environmental issues
• A friendly, front-facing approach with great customer service skills
• Managing cash, stock, and ordering – making sure everything adds up, supplies are well-managed – understanding the importance of being accurate and trustworthy when it comes to money

Skills, Knowledge and Attributes

• Communicate clearly with young people, team members, and visitors
• The ability to build positive relationships with a warm, welcoming approach, a non-judgemental attitude, and a good listening ear
• Stay organised, manage time well, and keep on top of tasks
• Work well in a team and have a ‘roll your sleeves’ up attitude to use your initiative to get things done
• Staying calm under pressure and handling busy shifts with confidence
• Support and guide the catering team during busy periods
• Delegate tasks effectively and keep daily operations running smoothly
• Adapt to changing priorities and make quick, confident decisions
• Take ownership of kitchen planning, organisation, and team coordination
• A commitment to the mission, aims and values of the client, a knowledge of the youth & voluntary sector in Grimsby and what it has to offer to the wider community would be advantageous
• An ongoing commitment to equity, fairness, and respect
• A willingness to work evenings & weekends with the flexibility, motivation and commitment to meeting the needs of young people at tha facility
• Thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and stays calm under pressure
• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team maintaining a proactive approach and can-do attitude
• A Passion for Young People: A genuine enthusiasm for working in a youth environment

Qualifications

• Basic Food Hygiene Certificate is required however an Advanced Food Hygiene certificate would be advantageous
• GCSE or equivalent literacy and numeracy understanding
• Where applicable, evidence of ongoing professional development (for example NVQ Level 3 or other recognized catering qualification, Safeguarding, Health & Safety, Management etc.)

GENERAL INFORMATION

The normal hours of work are 37.5 per week, or those necessary to fulfil the requirements of the position. There will be a requirement to work outside the normal 9 to 5, Monday to Friday, working week, including frequent evenings and weekends. This will mean working flexibly across the week, to suit the needs of both the role and the individual. Pre-opening and before the facility are built there will be elements of flexible working.

To apply for the position, click the apply button below or at the top of the page and complete the form. For more information on the role, call our team on 01472 729768 and we will be happy to assist. You can visit our jobs page to see our full list of available vacancies.

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