Sous Chef - School

  • Rayment Recruitment
  • Ipswich, Suffolk
  • Aug 17, 2026
Full time Hospitality & Tourism

Job Description

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