Location – Pembrokeshire
Salary – £22,000 – £25,000
Contract – Full Time (Part Time and Term Time working would be considered)
An exciting new opportunity has arisen for a full-time Kitchen Manager to join our amazing charity, which exists to remove the barriers that prevent children and young people from urban areas having meaningful access to the natural world and the farming sector. Through a week on one of our three 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 with others and positive wellbeing and leave us with enhanced environmental citizenship. Visiting children are immersed in the natural world of countryside, food, and farming life where they 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. 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. At our heritage farms – and 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.
About the Role
A fantastic opportunity with no weekend or evening work involved. Passionate about fresh 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 39 children and their accompanying adults. An integral part of the house team, the successful candidate will work closely with the Farm School Manager, Office Manager and Kitchen 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.
Lower Treginnis grows seasonal food on its allotment and in polytunnels and our Kitchen Manager will work closely with the Gardener and Livestock Manager to ensure we make the most of opportunities to rear, grow and use our own produce, in order to teach visiting groups the relationship between food and farming. This is a unique working environment and full support will be given to the right candidate as they adapt to this creative way of working.
This role will have direct contact with our visiting children and adults and will include delivering fun and informative cooking sessions for groups of children. We pride ourselves on being able to cater for a full range of dietary needs and cultural differences.
About you
You are passionate about cooking and nutrition and would be keen to provide a high quality, nutritionally balanced, varied and healthy menu for children, visitors and volunteer groups. You will be able to oversee the work of the Kitchen Assistants to maintain our food hygiene standards and will be responsible for record keeping, training for all staff involved in food preparation, liaising with environmental health and ordering/purchasing food, with the support of our Office Manager. You will be self-driven, patient and adaptable, able to plan, prioritise and manage time effectively whilst being a team player who will cultivate a warm and friendly relationship with the staff and children throughout their stay.
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 or Gloucestershire.
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.
Please see the Job Description and Person Specification for further details.
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 between £22,000 and £25,000 and a range of benefits, which include:
- 25 days holiday plus 8 statutory bank holidays
- 6% employer contribution to NEST pension scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
How to Apply
We are looking for someone to start in January, so interviews will be arranged on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
To apply please download our application form, once completed send to recruitment@farmsforcitychildren.org. You may also wish to fill out our equal opportunities monitoring form.
We are unable to accept just cover letters and CVs.
NO AGENCIES PLEASE – DIRECT RECRUITMENT ONLY
