[ref. d05393518] View Jobs Description - Weymouth

Head Chef Opportunity at Scallywags Childcare Centre

We pride ourselves on creating a nurturing, inclusive environment where both staff and children are treated with respect, individuality, and value.

• Work-Life Balance: No more late nights, weekends, Christmas, New Years Eve or bank holidays. Enjoy a Monday to Friday schedule with evenings and holidays off, giving you the time to recharge and enjoy your personal life.
• Supportive Environment: You’ll work alongside an amazing team of Early Years Educators who are not only great at what they do but also fun to be around. You'll find a true sense of community here—making some lifelong friends along the way.
• Make an Impact: As Head Chef, your nutritious, home-cooked meals will nourish the next generation, ensuring that up to 80 children each day enjoy healthy, exciting food. Your creativity in the kitchen will help shape their healthy eating habits for life.

• Prepare a delicious, rotating menu including morning snacks, lunch, afternoon snacks, and high tea. We encourage innovation, so your input on menu ideas, seasonal dishes, and variations is always welcome.
• Ensure all dietary requirements and allergies are met with care, crafting alternate meals when needed.
• Manage kitchen stock, maintain food hygiene standards (we’re proud to have a consistent 5-star hygiene rating!), and even lead fun, child-friendly cooking sessions (optional).
• Take pride in serving up a show-stopping Christmas roast each year!

• Flexible Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week spread over five days (08:00 – 17:00 on most days with one half-day shift). We are open to discussing different working patterns or contracted hours with the right candidate.
• Support in the Kitchen, you won’t be alone! A Lunchtime Kitchen Assistant will help from 11:30 - 13:30 every day.
• Work Perks: Uniform provided, free parking, discounted gym membership, and the staff room is stocked with tea, coffee, hot chocolate, snacks, and free fruit. Plus, our famous pick & mix and doughnut days!
• Training Opportunities: Whether you're new to early years settings or an experienced chef, we’ll support your growth with relevant training and professional development.

• Food hygiene, safety regulations, and allergy management.
• Manual handling and HACCP procedures (training can be provided).
• Creating nutritious meals with good portion control and weaning techniques (weaning training available).

What’s Next?

If you’re an experienced chef looking for a fulfilling role with a positive impact, we want to hear from you! You’ll need to complete a DBS check, and the interview process includes an informal chat with our management team, followed by an opportunity to cook a lunch with our current chef.

Come join us at Scallywags, where your work won’t just be about food – it will be about shaping children’s lives. Apply today to be part of a warm and friendly team.

Benefits:

• Childcare
• Company events
• Discounted or free food
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• Health & wellbeing programme
• On-site parking

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday
• No weekends

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Weymouth, Dorset: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Experience:

• Chef: 2 years (preferred)

Language:

• English (required)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person