Pastry Chef

Job description

About

Pastry Chef

Craft Exceptional Experiences at King's College Taunton

Location: King's College, South Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 3LA

Salary: £14.21 per hour

Hours: 40 hours per week

Working Pattern: 5 days out of 7

Shift Times: 6:15am - 2:15pm and 11:45am - 7:45pm

Contract: Full-Time with Overtime Opportunities

Travel Information: King's College Taunton is situated within a beautiful campus setting just a 10-minute walk from Taunton town centre and is easily accessible via local transport links. Plan your journey here:

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Join a Prestigious School Community

Are you a talented Pastry Chef who takes pride in creating exceptional desserts, artisan bakes and memorable dining experiences?

At

King's College Taunton, one of the South West's leading independent schools, food is an important part of school life. From everyday dining and hospitality events to celebrations and special occasions, every dish contributes to an experience that reflects the school's reputation for excellence.

Working closely with the Executive Chef and wider catering team, you'll have the opportunity to:

• Lead and develop an exciting pastry offering within a prestigious educational setting.
• Showcase your creativity through innovative desserts, pastries, breads and celebration cakes.
• Influence seasonal menus and contribute fresh ideas.
• Deliver high-quality products that enhance the experience of students, staff, parents and visitors.
• Be part of a supportive team committed to excellence, innovation and continuous improvement.

This role is ideal for someone who takes genuine pride in their craft and enjoys balancing creativity with consistency.

What You'll Do

As Pastry Chef, you will:

• Lead the day-to-day operation of the pastry section, ensuring smooth, efficient and high-quality production.
• Create, prepare, bake and present a wide variety of pastries, desserts, cakes, breads and sweet treats to exceptional standards.
• Work alongside the Executive Chef to develop innovative seasonal menus and exciting new pastry concepts.
• Manage pastry production to achieve the highest standards of quality, consistency and cost control.
• Ensure all products are prepared, presented and served in line with Sodexo and King's College standards.
• Take ownership of food ordering, stock control and ingredient management within the pastry section.
• Maintain the highest standards of food safety, allergen management, hygiene and cleanliness.
• Support hospitality events, functions and special occasions with creative and memorable pastry offerings.
• Contribute positively to a collaborative kitchen culture that values development, teamwork and continuous improvement.
• Inspire those around you by sharing knowledge, skills and a passion for exceptional food.

What You'll Bring

We're looking for a chef who is passionate about pastry and excited by the opportunity to help shape the future of catering at King's College.

The ideal candidate will be:

• Creative, ambitious and driven to continually develop their skills.
• Passionate about producing high-quality pastries, desserts and baked goods.
• Experienced in maintaining consistently high standards in a busy kitchen environment.
• Organised, reliable and able to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Committed to the highest standards of food safety, allergen awareness and hygiene.
• Customer-focused, with a strong understanding of how great food enhances the overall dining experience.
• A positive team player who enjoys working collaboratively and supporting others.
• Confident in bringing fresh ideas and innovative approaches to menu development and presentation.

Why Join Us?

This is more than a Pastry Chef role. It's an opportunity to combine creativity, craftsmanship and purpose within a respected school community.

In return, you'll benefit from:

• Competitive pay and benefits package.
• Full training and protective uniform provided.
• Full-time contract with overtime opportunities.
• A supportive, professional and collaborative working environment.
• The opportunity to showcase your creativity and influence an evolving food offer.
• No unsociable hours and public holidays off, including Christmas.
• Unlimited access to mental health and wellbeing support.
• Employee Assistance Programme offering legal, financial and personal support.
• Discounts, cashback schemes and financial wellbeing benefits.
• Career progression opportunities, apprenticeships and learning programmes.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Volunteering and community engagement opportunities.
• The opportunity to build your career within a global organisation committed to developing its people.

A Place to Belong

At Sodexo, we believe everyone deserves a place where they can thrive.

When you join King's College Taunton, you'll become part of a team that is passionate about excellence and proud of the food and service they deliver.

Whether you're:

• Creating handcrafted pastries for daily dining.
• Producing elegant desserts for hospitality events.
• Designing celebration cakes for special occasions.
• Bringing new ideas and creativity to an evolving food offer.

You'll play an important role in delivering an exceptional dining experience within a school community that values quality, care and excellence in everything it does.

Apply today and bring your passion for pastry to King's College Taunton.

Please note: Sodexo and King's College Taunton are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) and previous employment checks.

Sodexo reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

I think this now strikes the right balance between

prestigious independent school,

creative pastry opportunity, and

warm employer brand, while still including all of the operational detail candidates need