Assistant Cook
| Posting date: | 10 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £12.88 per hour |
| Additional salary information: | Competitive |
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 24 February 2026 |
| Location: | Manchester, M8 8SA |
| Company: | Sodexo Ltd |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | SDX/TP/2248949/153826 |
Summary
Assistant Cook - Lead with Passion, Cook with Purpose!
Location: Oasis Temple, Cheetham Hill, M8 8SA
Pay: £12.88 per hour
Hours: 25 hours per week
Working Pattern: Monday to Friday, between 8:45am – 1:45pm (shift times may vary)
Are you passionate about food and motivated by making a real difference? This is your opportunity to step into a rewarding role where your cooking helps fuel young minds and shape brighter futures.
As an Assistant Cook with Oasis Temple, Cheetham Hill, M8 8SA, you’ll play a key role in delivering high-quality, nutritious meals in a busy school environment. You’ll support kitchen leadership, inspire uptake in meals, and ensure every dish meets Sodexo’s high standards for quality, safety, and customer satisfaction — all while working sociable hours.
Join Sodexo and become part of a team where you can act with purpose, grow with confidence, and truly belong.
What You’ll Be Doing
Supporting the preparation, cooking, and presentation of meals to a high standard in line with the Service Level Agreement
Ensuring food is delivered on time, to specification, and with pride
Catering confidently for special dietary requirements (e.g. allergies, intolerances)
Maintaining excellent standards of food safety, hygiene, health & safety at all times
Supporting special events or functions when required
Building strong, positive relationships with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders
Sharing best practice and kitchen activity through the school’s closed Facebook group “Dishin’ It Out”
Supporting other Sodexo sites when required
Attending training sessions and meetings to support your development
Essential experience and skills:
Experience cooking on a large scale (serving 100–1300 students)
Confidence following recipes in a professional kitchen
Previous experience supervising or supporting staff
Strong knowledge of fresh ingredients and food preparation
A solid understanding of food safety, hygiene, and health & safety regulations
Ability to stay calm and organised in a fast-paced environment
A positive, professional attitude with a genuine passion for food
Qualifications (or willingness to work towards):
NVQ Level 2
Level 2 Food Safety Certificate
At least 1 year of hands-on cooking experience
(Training in Food Hygiene and Health & Safety will be provided)
- A supportive and inclusive workplace
- No unsociable hours — evenings, weekends & public holidays off (including Christmas!)
- Full training and uniform provided
- Career progression, apprenticeships, and development opportunities
- Unlimited access to mental health & wellbeing support
- Employee Assistance Programme (legal, financial & personal advice)
- Discounts, cashback schemes & financial benefits
- Cycle to Work Scheme and paid volunteering opportunities
At Sodexo, we believe everyone deserves a place to belong. This isn’t just a job — it’s a chance to build a meaningful career while making a real impact every day.
If you’re ready to lead with passion and cook with purpose, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply today and help us create a brighter future together.
Safeguarding Notice:
Sodexo and our clients are committed to safeguarding children and young people. All roles are subject to pre-employment checks, including DBS and employment references.
Sodexo reserves the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of applications.