3 Community chef jobs

We’re looking for someone who loves food, enjoys bringing people together, and can make a busy community kitchen work brilliantly. The Community Kitchen Coordinator will coordinate our growing programme of community lunches, cooking and baking sessions, working alongside volunteers, students and staff to create welcoming spaces where people can cook, eat, learn and connect.

This isn’t primarily a chef role, but it is a practical, hands-on kitchen and coordination role. You’ll need to be confident preparing and cooking food for groups and willing to get stuck into delivery when needed, while also being organised and able to plan ahead, organise volunteers, manage ingredients and stock, and make sure our activities run safely and smoothly. You’ll also help us shape and deliver a more sustainable, inclusive and affordable approach to food at Likewise. You’ll work with community members and volunteer cooks to create delicious, nutritious and culturally varied meals that align with our commitments to ethical and more sustainable food practices within the resources of a community kitchen

Key information can be found below, but please carefully read the full Job Pack PDF attached to this advert to find out more about Likewise, the role and responsibilities, and how to apply.

Key Information:
Title: Community Kitchen Coordinator
Salary: £29,000 FTE (pro-rata for part-time)
Holiday: 28 days + bank holidays (increasing by 1 day per year of service).
Pension: 5% employer contribution.
Hours: 16 hours p/w, usually worked across 2 days. Friday is a regular requirement, other day (ideally Tuesdays or Wednesdays) will alternate based on the needs of the programme.
Based: In-person at the Likewise Community Hub, Camden
Term: 3 years fixed-term, with possibility of extension - ideally to start in November 2026

About the Likewise Community Kitchen Programme:

Over the last two years, we’ve developed the Likewise Community Kitchen as part of this wider mission because we believe that food belongs to everyone, and can bring people together regardless of background or experience. We also recognise the growing threat that the cost of living and housing crisis pose to food security and food independence across the community.

Our hope is that by offering free and low-barrier access to meals, cooking workshops, and other food-based offers in a shared space, we can tackle those challenges while creating opportunities for people to connect, learn from each other, and truly feel part of a collective and interdependent community.

Currently, the Likewise Community Kitchen programme includes:

• Two free community lunches per week
• Two free community cooking workshops / supper club sessions per month
• Two free healthy baking workshops per month
• Two volunteer baking group sessions per month
• Two-three seasonal events and celebrations per year, which include free meals and/or at least one food-growing, cooking, or other food-based offer

About You:

Essential experience for this role would include:

• A background in food and kitchen environments, food hygiene and health & safety standards – whether in a community, hospitality, or commercial setting
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Confidence in planning, organizing, and/or cooking for large groups of people
• Excellent communication skills, and understanding how to support the promotion of food offers within a wider programe
• Experience organising and planning practical projects independently, e.g. placing orders, managing inventories, and day-to-day logistics
• Experience or knowledge of sustainable food practices in a community, hospitality or commercial kitchen setting - including menu development that reduces environmental impact
• Strong attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem solving
• Confidence in leading and coordinating delivery teams - delegating and managing tasks efficiently, and supporting people to devleop skills in line with project growth and development
• A passion for people - and a willingness to engage with a diverse community, some of whom may be experiencing mental health challenges, social isolation, or other barriers to participation 

Desirable experience for this role would include:

• Experience working in community-based or community kitchen settings
• A background in running, organising and resourcing food-based community workshops
• Experience facilitating cooking activities or workshops that are engaging, interactive, and that encourage voice and participation from attendees
• Experience working in a mental health setting, or supporting people who experience mental health challenges or social ioslation in any capacity
• Background in facilitating food, nutrition, or kitchen-based training to delivery teams
• Experience in supporting kitchens to move towards a more ethically sourced and vegetarian food offer - with an understanding of the nutritional, cultural, financil and sourcing considerations involved
• Knowledge in sustainable, seasonal, and vegetarian food sourcing - for example, shifting towarsd local or zero-waste suppleirs, and reducing food miles 
• Food Hygiene Level 2 or 3 Qualification (we can provide appropriate training if you don't already have this)

How to Apply:

Please read the Community Kitchen Coordinator Job Information pack attached to this advert in full, and submit your application on CharityJobs + attach your anonymised CV alongside your cover letter answering the questions in the job pack by 9 AM on the 16th of October, 2026. 

Your application on CharityJobs will be anonymised in line with our Equity, Diversion and Inclusion policy, which help us to keep our recruitment process fair. Please ensure any attachments, CVs and cover letters are also anonymised. For more information on our EDI policy and the recruitment process, please refer to the Job Information Pack.