Chef De Partie

Job Introduction

Chef - Lead with Passion, Cook with Purpose!

Location: Magdalen College School, Cowley Place, Oxford, OX4 1DZ

Salary: £13.63 per hour
Hours: 40 hours per week
Working Pattern: 5 days per week

About The School

Magdalen College School Is an Independent Day School serving Breakfast and Lunch. The School Operates a Traditional Monday to Friday Calendar. MCS currently has 977 students and roughly 175 staff. We Have a Main Dining Hall Serving Roughly 700 Lunches Per Day. The school has two retail outlets – A Tuck Shop and A Coffee Shop. The School does like to Host, and does Boast of a busy Hospitality Calendar. MCS does Compete in Sport with the larger Independent Boarding Schools, as a result they Host Sport Teas most Saturdays. 

The Role

Are you ready to take the lead in a kitchen where food fuels not just bodies but bright futures? As a Chef De Partie for Sodexo, you'll be at the heart of the school, overseeing food and beverage operations, managing budgets, and ensuring every meal is top-tier. You'll assist the Sous chef with maintaining high level of food standard and presentation and you will be required to work during some of the school holidays on a rota basis.

Join Sodexo and be part of something greater. You belong in a team where you can act with purpose and thrive in your own way.

What You’ll Do:

• Assist the Sous Chef as appropriate and where necessary to maintain high levels of food standards and presentation and over-all effectiveness of the staff output laid down in the Service Level Agreement and to the menu specification bespoke to Magdalen College School. 

• Assist and prepare all food with due care and attention, particularly regarding customers’ special dietary requirements: for example but not limited to, nut, dairy or wheat allergies.

• To aid and have an active input in maintaining the 3-week menu cycles in line with the School menu specification.

• Cover all areas as detailed in rota incorporating breakfast and lunch services and when necessary to provide theatre cooking in either one of our retail outlets.

•  You will be required to work – On a rota basis – During some of the school holidays. This will be divided up fairly between the CDP team. 

• Cook and serve lunch for a small group of Support staff who work throughout the year.

• Assist and work school functions and outside hospitality as required, some of which may occur outside of normal working hours. Such functions will be shared between the chef brigade on a rota basis.

• Ensure that appropriate methods of cooking and presentation are used to maintain the highest standards of production and service.

• Assist with maintenance of goods received system to ensure statutory and quality standards are maintained.

• Promote and maintain a friendly working relationship with colleagues. A real team player.

What You Bring:

Essential:

• Experience cooking on a large scale (100–1300 students)

• Experience following recipes in a professional kitchen

• Strong knowledge of fresh produce and ingredient preparation

• Ability to set and maintain standards and strong level of literacy and numeracy

• Good communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to be an effective team player 

• Understanding of health and safety regulations and the ability to enforce them

• Ability to work under pressure in a busy kitchen environment

• Excellent time management, organisational skills and a passion for food

• Hold basic food handling certifications, including:

  • NVQ Level 2

  • Level 2 Food Safety Certificate

• At least one year of hands-on cooking experience 

Desirable:

• Ability to review problems analytically, develop opportunities and implement innovative solutions / approaches
• Advanced Food Safety or Health and Safety qualification

What We Offer:

• A dynamic and supportive work environment

• Competitive salary and benefits

• Full training and protective uniform provided

• Unlimited access to mental health and wellbeing support

• Employee Assistance Programme for legal, financial, and personal support

• Discounts, cashback schemes, and financial benefits

• Career progression, learning opportunities, and apprenticeships

• Cycle to Work Scheme and volunteering opportunities

At Sodexo, we believe everyone deserves a place to belong. This isn’t just a job—it’s a chance to be part of something bigger. If you’re ready to lead with passion and cook with purpose, we want to hear from you!

Apply today and help us create a brighter future!

Note: Sodexo and our clients are committed to safeguarding children. All roles require pre-employment screening, including DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) and past employer checks.

Sodexo reserves the right to close this advert early if we receive a high number of applications.