Chef

Your Aramark journey starts here

Chef – University of Derby, Cavendish House (DE1 1DZ)

Location: Derby

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (5 days over 7, including occasional weekends)

Shift: 7:00am – 3:30pm

Salary: £25,000–£27,000 per annum (dependent on experience)

Are you a skilled and motivated chef looking to bring your passion to a vibrant university setting? We are looking for a dedicated Chef to join our catering team at Cavendish House, University of Derby. This is a hands-on role that plays a key part in delivering high-quality food and exceptional service for students, staff, and visitors – from everyday dining to large-scale events.

Working within a professional and friendly kitchen environment, you’ll support the smooth running of daily operations and contribute to the success of our hospitality services across campus venues.

Key Responsibilities:

Assist in the day-to-day running of the kitchen, maintaining high standards of food quality and presentation

Supervise, train, and support kitchen staff to ensure effective performance and team morale

Help plan menus that consider dietary needs, student preferences, and seasonal availability

Maintain strict hygiene, food safety, and allergen standards in line with HACCP and company policies

Manage stock levels, ordering, and waste reduction effectively

Deliver catering services for events, conferences, and hospitality functions

Collaborate with front-of-house teams to ensure a smooth and professional service

Provide flexible support across other university catering sites as needed

What We’re Looking For:

NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Professional Cookery (or equivalent)

Minimum of 3 years' experience in a kitchen environment, ideally within high-volume catering

Strong knowledge of food safety regulations and allergen management

Excellent organisational, communication, and problem-solving skills

Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel between university sites

What We Offer:

Competitive salary based on experience

Employee benefit platform with a range of discounts and wellbeing resources

Free uniform provided

Discounted meals while on shift

On-site parking available

If you’re ready to take the next step in your culinary career and work in a supportive, rewarding environment, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now and be part of delivering fresh, exciting food at the University of Derby.

About Aramark

At Aramark UK, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone is valued and empowered to thrive. As a proud Disability Confident employer, we actively encourage applications from individuals of all abilities and are dedicated to supporting employees with disabilities throughout their career journey.

We ensure our recruitment process is accessible, and reasonable adjustments are available at every stage, from application to interview and employment. If you require any accommodations or have any questions, please reach out to our recruitment team –

Join us in fostering a workplace where everyone can achieve their full potential.