Sous Chef - School in Ipswich - Rayment Recruitment

Sous Chef – School

Outskirts of Ipswich

£31,000 per year

Permanent | Full Time | 40 Hours per Week | Mainly Day Shifts

Are you an experienced Sous Chef looking for a rewarding role with a fantastic work-life balance?

We are recruiting for a Sous Chef to join the catering team at a prestigious private school on the outskirts of Ipswich. This is a permanent, full-time position offering a competitive salary, structured working hours, and every other weekend off.

If you're passionate about preparing fresh, high-quality food and are confident supporting the leadership of a professional kitchen, we'd love to hear from you.

Salary & Benefits

• £31,000 per annum
• Permanent, full-time position
• 40-hour working week
• Every other weekend off
• Structured shift rota
• Supportive and professional kitchen team
• Opportunity to work within a prestigious independent school
• Excellent work-life balance

Working Hours

You must be flexible to work a rota covering the following shifts:

• 6:00am – 2:00pm
• 9:00am – 5:00pm
• 11:00am – 7:00pm

Sous Chef Responsibilities

• Support the Head Chef with the day-to-day running and management of the kitchen
• Lead and motivate the kitchen team during service and ensure smooth kitchen operations
• Prepare and cook fresh, high-quality meals for students, staff, and visitors
• Ensure all food is prepared, cooked and presented to consistently high standards
• Assist with menu planning and development, contributing new ideas and seasonal dishes
• Maintain excellent food hygiene, HACCP and health & safety standards
• Monitor food quality, portion control and presentation
• Assist with stock control, ordering and deliveries
• Help manage food costs and minimise food waste
• Ensure the kitchen is clean, organised and compliant with all relevant standards
• Support the training and development of junior members of the kitchen team
• Step up and take responsibility for the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence
• Work closely with the wider catering team to deliver an excellent service

Essential Requirements

To be considered, you must have:

• Level 2 Professional Cookery qualification (or equivalent) – Essential
• Previous experience as a Sous Chef, or a strong Chef de Partie ready to progress into a Sous Chef position
• Previous experience working in a busy professional kitchen
• Strong knowledge of food hygiene, HACCP and health & safety procedures
• Good leadership and team-management skills
• A positive attitude and the ability to lead by example
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• Flexibility to work the required shift pattern
• A full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle. The school is located on the outskirts of Ipswich and is not easily accessible by public transport