Kitchen Manager – Farms for City Children

Gloucestershire

An exciting new opportunity has arisen for a Kitchen Managerto join our dynamic social mobility charity which exists to remove the barriers that prevent children and young people having meaningful access to the natural world.  Through a week on one of our three heritage farms, Nethercott House in Devon, Lower Treginnis in Pembrokeshire, and Wick Court in Gloucestershire, children and young people experience increased learning and engagement, improved connections and wellbeing, and leave us with an enhanced sense of environmental citizenship.  Visiting children are immersed in the natural world of countryside through a food and farming offer that allows them to participate in the seasonal tasks of the day: sowing, growing and harvesting in our kitchen gardens; caring for livestock and looking after the land; and cooking up a home-grown feast in the farmhouse kitchen. In partnership with our commercial farming neighbours, children experience the benefits of collaboration, enjoy plenty of physical activity, good food, and fresh air, and discover the magical rural environment that is full of new words, sounds and experiences to inspire their creativity. Spending time working alongside real farmers fosters children’s independence and helps them to grow in confidence, develops their self-esteem, and encourages them to become more resilient.

About the Role

Passionate about nutrition, provenance and seasonal produce, this senior role is central to the efficient running of a busy kitchen providing three nutritious meals each day to a large residential accommodation for groups of up to 40 children and accompanying adults. As an important part of the house team, the person in this role will work closely with the Farm School Manager, Office Manager, Kitchen Assistants and General Assistants to ensure the needs of resident groups are met and that the highest standards of nutrition, food quality, food hygiene and health and safety are maintained.

As a working farm, with an extensive kitchen garden operation, the Kitchen Manager plays a critically important role in the wider management of the site, working very closely with the Farm Operations Team to ensure we make the most of opportunities to rear, grow and use our own produce, making the links between food and farming explicit to our visiting groups.

This role will have regular and direct contact with our visiting children and adults, including developing delivering cooking sessions for groups of children which inspire and engage, but also connect with their experience of working on the farm or in the garden. There is also a key role in welcoming them upon arrival, supporting their induction into the house and maintaining a warm and friendly relationship throughout their stay. We pride ourselves on being able to cater for a full range of dietary needs and cultural differences.

This position is a farm-based role which will require only very occasional travel within the Charity’s regions in order to attend training or meetings, normally at one of our farms in Devon and Pembrokeshire.

For full details about the role, please see the Job Description and Person Specification and Job Information Pack.

Appointments will not be confirmed until the Charity has received two satisfactory professional references, evidence of the existing proof of right to work in the UK. Referees will not be contacted without candidates’ prior consent.

Farms for City Children is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Successful candidates will be subject to a Social Media check and a DBS check at the appropriate level. Employment with the charity is conditional upon the charity being satisfied with the result of the DBS Check. Successful candidates will be asked to complete a self-declaration related to their criminal record or any information that would make them unsuitable to work with children. If you have lived or worked outside of the UK, additional information may be required from you to satisfy safer recruitment checks.  Any criminal records information that is disclosed to the charity will be handled in accordance with any guidance and/or code of practice published by the DBS.

Farms for City Children is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusivity and supports and encourages under-represented groups.  We seek people from a wide range of backgrounds, with diverse lived experience, and we welcome applications from all sections of the community.

What we Offer

In return you will receive a starting salary of £28,222 and a range of benefits, which include:

25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays
6% employer contribution to NEST pension scheme
Employee Assistance Programme

How to Apply

Deadline for applications is midday on Friday 11 October 2024 

Interviews: Wednesday 16 October 2024

To apply please download and fill out our application form by clicking on Apply Now, once completed send via the email address to the right of this advert. You may also wish to fill out our equal opportunities monitoring form.

Please click on Apply Now to see the Job Description and Person Specification for full details about the role and apply online.

We are unable to accept just cover letters and CVs.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE – DIRECT RECRUITMENT ONLY

Salary: £28,222 pa

To Apply simply click the 'Apply Now' button below and complete the online form including attaching an up-to-date CV.