Assistant catering manager jobs

A Senior Sous Chef position is needed to assist the Executive head chef in the everyday running and organising of the kitchen and to line manage assistant chefs and kitchen porters. Menu planning, food ordering, stock control, and event delivery.

This role is a fixed-term contract for one year.

Responsibilities

• Ensure that all the Lambeth Palace kitchen team are fully trained in the food safety management systems and procedures, implemented by the Executive Head Chef.
• Work under and closely with the Executive Head Chef to ensure that all statutory legislation is adhered to by ensuring that standards and controls for Health & Safety, food hygiene, risk assessments, COSHH, manual handling are carried out as per current legislation.
• To ensure that the agreed standards of food preparation and presentation are always supervised and adhered to.
• To maintain Lambeth Palace's five star 'Scores on the Doors' council rating.
• Maintain and develop a positive and collaborative relationship with all colleagues, giving direction when necessary.
• Ensure that kitchen timesheets are completed and submitted in a timely manner.
• Working within the HSE guidelines, the Senior Sous Chef will support the Executive Head Chef to ensure allergen training is provided to all hospitality staff.
• To ensure that food waste is minimised and Lambeth Palace's sustainability targets are met reducing our environmental impact.
• To deputise for the Executive Head Chef in their absence.
• Working with the Executive Head Chef on menu development, to plan nutritious and varied seasonal menus, taking into account special dietary requirements and the seasons of the Church.
• Ensure that kitchen stock levels are maintained, rotated where appropriate, and that any need for replenishment is identified.
• Maintain kitchen equipment inventories, and reporting shortages, damage or required replacements in a timely manner.
• To conduct daily briefings with any additional or agency kitchen staff, ensuring they understand what is required of them, as well as the desired quality and production output for the day.
• To work closely with the wider Lambeth Palace hospitality team to ensure that we remain competitive and in line with current trends.

Essential

Qualifications/Skills

• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent
• Food hygiene management experience (COSHH, HACCP).
• Allergen Training

Knowledge/Experience

• Considerable experience operating different sections within the kitchen including pastry & baking.
• Experience in delivering fine-dining and banqueting catering.

Skills & Abilities

• A 'can-do' attitude and an aptitude for solving problems as they arise.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Demonstrable experience cooking a mixture of 'high-end' à la carte food and home cooking, as required.
• Considerable experience with catering for events up to 500 guests.
• Experience of baking to a high standard.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Self-motivated with the ability to motivate others.
• A confident, helpful personality and professional representative for Lambeth Palace.
• A keen eye for detail and anticipating other people's needs.

Personal Attributes

• Able to work flexibly, particularly evenings and occasional weekends.
• A sympathy with and interest in the Archbishop of Canterbury's ministry.
• Ability to support a culture of pride, ownership and desire to exceed expectation.
• Ability to foster a culture of flexibility.
• Ability to respond quickly and positively to changing requirements whether within the department or outside in order to meet demands and guest service needs.
• Discreet with the awareness and emotional intelligence to adapt working style and approach in different situations.
• This post is subject to a basic DBS check.

Desirable

Skills/Aptitudes

• The post holder should have a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office for day-to-day office administration.
• First Aid qualification

Closing date for applications is 01 July 2026, 23:55 pm

£35,560 + Benefits

12 months’ fixed term maternity cover

London, UK (Hybrid – 50% office attendance)

We are looking for a Personal Assistant (PA) to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), to provide high-quality, confidential, and proactive executive support. You will be responsible for comprehensive diary and inbox management, coordination of meetings and travel, management of expenses, gatekeeping the CEO’s time, and ensuring the CEO is well-prepared through briefing and action tracking.

As PA to the CEO, you will work closely with the Chief of Staff, Briefing Hub Officer, and other relevant colleagues, to ensure the CEO’s meetings are appropriately supported with papers and briefings. You will also liaise with colleagues supporting the Academy of Medical Sciences’ President, to coordinate diaries where CEO and President activity intersects, and will manage sensitive communications with discretion and professionalism.

About the role

Executive, diary & inbox management:

• Provide proactive and complex diary management for the CEO, ensuring effective prioritisation and forward planning.
• Manage the CEO’s inbox, including monitoring correspondence, prioritising and responding where appropriate, and ensuring timely follow-up.
• Screen, triage, and manage incoming enquiries on behalf of the CEO, exercising sound judgement and discretion.
• Draft, prepare, and manage correspondence and documentation as required.
• Maintain accurate and well-organised electronic filing systems for the CEO’s office.

Gatekeeping, briefings & action tracking:

• Act as a gatekeeper to the CEO, balancing access, prioritising meetings, and advising on scheduling trade-offs.
• Work closely with the Chief of Staff, Briefing Hub Officer and colleagues to ensure meetings are appropriately briefed and supported.
• Track key actions arising from meetings attended by the CEO, ensuring follow-up occurs and deadlines are met, without owning delivery.
• Maintain awareness of protocol, managing sensitive communications and stakeholder interactions with discretion.

Meetings, travel & expenses:

• Arrange all travel and accommodation for the CEO, including itineraries and briefing packs.
• Coordinate virtual, hybrid, and in-person meetings, including booking rooms, managing technology (Microsoft Teams), and arranging catering.
• Prepare, submit, and track the CEO’s expenses in line with Academy policies, liaising with the Finance team as required.

Governance & corporate support:

• Provide administrative support to the CEO in relation to governance activity, including meetings involving the Academy’s Council Members, President, and Honorary Officers, as required.
• Liaise with PAs and administrative colleagues supporting the President to coordinate diaries, particularly where joint meetings or shared commitments arise.
• Support the coordination of CEO-related papers, briefings, and follow-up actions arising from senior meetings.

Corporate events & internal coordination:

• Support the planning and delivery of corporate events attended or hosted by the CEO. This could include the Annual General Meeting (AGM), New Fellows’ Admissions Day, named lectures, and other ad hoc events.
• Assist with coordination of all-staff meetings, senior leadership meetings, and cross-Academy activity involving the CEO.
• Provide diary and administrative support for ad hoc cross-Academy projects requiring CEO involvement.

Systems & information management:

• Maintain and update records within the Academy’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) database (Salesforce), finance software (Iplicit) and other digital systems, as required.
• Support updates to internal systems and website content related to CEO or corporate activity, where appropriate.

Requirements

Skills, experience & abilities:

• Proven experience providing high-level PA or Executive Assistant support to a senior leader.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Confidence working with senior stakeholders and external organisations.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with discretion and sound judgement.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office and CRM databases.
• Experience managing senior-level diaries, inboxes, travel, expenses, and briefing coordination.
• Experience in gatekeeping, action tracking, and protocol management.

Personal attributes:

• Highly organised, proactive, and calm under pressure.
• Discreet, trustworthy, and professional.
• Collaborative and confident working with senior colleagues.
• Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities.
• Strong commitment to the Academy’s mission, values, and public benefit.

Benefits

We provide our staff with a comprehensive benefits package outlined as follows:

• Generous pension scheme with flexible contributions – we contribute between 8% - 13% of your gross salary (with employee contributions of 3% - 8%)
• Life assurance at three times your salary

• Hybrid and agile working.  50% office attendance.
• 26 days annual leave, plus Christmas closure days and bank holidays
• Buying and selling leave
• Family-friendly policies including enhanced maternity and paternity leave (subject to a qualifying period)

• Complimentary subscriptions to Headspace and Classpass to support your physical and mental wellbeing
• Support through tailored learning and development

• A range of enhanced benefits become available once you’ve completed your probation period

If you have any questions about this role, please contact the Chief of Staff, Lizzy Benedikz, by email.

For more information and to apply online, please visit our vacancies page. 

Closing date: 5.00pm on Monday, 22 June 2026.

Interview date: week commencing 6 July 2026.