Health & Nutrition Manager (Chef)
Lead a food vision that changes children\'s livesAt London Early Years Foundation (LEYF), we believe every child deserves healthy, nutritious food - and the habits that will help them thrive for life. Across our 43 nurseries, food is a core part of our pedagogy. It\'s woven into learning, family life, community, joy... and it depends on dedicated kitchen teams who bring that vision to life every day.
We\'re looking for a Health & Nutrition Manager to lead this mission.
Think of it as being the unofficial Head Chef for the organisation: guiding, coaching and inspiring our senior and nursery chefs to deliver consistently brilliant food, safe kitchens, and engaging food experiences for children.
It\'s a role for someone who cares deeply about great nutrition, understands what excellent kitchen practice looks like, and thrives on building capability in others. Someone who can talk confidently to parents, influence policy partners, shape menus at scale and still get hands‐on in a training kitchen when needed.
If you want your skills and voice to help London\'s youngest children eat well and grow well, this is the place to do it.
What you\'ll be doingLead and elevate food practice across 40+ nurseries
Visit sites regularly to embed best practice, check standards, and strengthen food culture
Coach and develop our chefs and kitchen teams
Champion safe kitchens, smart processes, and management of allergies and intolerances
Drive our Early Years food vision
Shape menus and recipe banks that are nutritious, adventurous and culturally diverse
Maintain and evolve our nutrition standards
Support nursery acquisitions to transition smoothly into the LEYF food approach
Deliver training that inspires people
Lead our CACHE‐accredited Level 3 Chef Academy programmes for chefs, kitchen professionals and educators
Create, refresh and present training materials confidently
Run sessions in our Stockwell training kitchen, as well as online and across nurseries
Influence beyond LEYF
Be active in our sector shaping the national conversation on Early Years nutrition
Partner with sector organisations and policy groups to push for meaningful change
Represent LEYF at events - cooking, speaking and advocating for healthier food systems
Deliver engaging parent workshops that strengthen healthy habits at home
Shape sustainable practice
Develop an effective approach to food procurement
Support research on barriers to healthier food for families on low incomes
Work with Marketing to share our Chef Academy programmes and impact externally
We\'re looking for someone who...Has the expertise and motivation
Been a Chef and can cook well especially for children
Strong understanding of nutrition, food safety, dietary requirements and kitchen operations
Trained and coached others before - ideally with experience assessing learning or working towards CAVA/IQA
Experience in procurement, menu development or large‐scale kitchen practice is a bonus
Has the behaviours that make this role shine
Personable presenter & assertive - can command a room with calm confidence
Warm, kind, collaborative and able to influence
A natural coach who brings the best out of others
Pragmatic, unflappable and solutions‐focused (multi‐site life never stands still)
Articulate and persuasive with stakeholders
Curious, adaptable and loves learning
Motivated by helping children and families to eat well and stay well
Why you\'ll love it here
Be part of something meaningful for children
Shape the standards, training and practice for a whole organisation and influence the sector
Hybrid working in a warm, people‐centred culture
Sociable work hours (Monday to Friday nursery opening times)
Inhouse head chef role with the opportunity to influence the sector
70% childcare discount for your children or grandchildren
26 days\' holiday plus bank holidays and your birthday off
7% employer pension contribution
We welcome you exactly as you areA diverse team makes us better. Whatever your background, if you share our passion for great food, strong training and improving children\'s lives, we\'d love to hear from you.
Apply online and tell us why this role matters to you. We\'re reviewing applications as they come in so please don\'t wait too long!
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Salary: GBP 36000 - 60000 per year