Find your place in the field of good food

Our goal is to connect good people with good food. We advertise sustainable food jobs and training opportunities to help jobseekers and employers find each other.

Roots to Work is a project of Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.

Job description

PART TIME POSITION (21hrs/week) KITCHEN LEAD

(Charitable Community Benefit Society)

This recruitment opportunity has been enabled by a grant from Essex County Council which has the direct requirement for us to employ someone with a learning disability and/or autism.

We are a community owned, charitable co-operative which practices Social Farming on a certified biodynamic farm on the Blackwater Estuary, near Maldon in Essex. Launched in 2017 and building on thirteen years of development, we provide a wide range of educational opportunities through meaningful work experiences to many people, especially those with a learning disability and/or autism (LDA). We also undertake extensive conservation work through on the farm’s 210 acres which includes rare breed cattle and sheep, laying hens, vegetable growing, woolly crafts and a community kitchen processing produce and providing daily lunches. Produce is sold locally at markets, weekly deliveries and directly from the farm. We also have a volunteering program, give talks to local interest groups and work closely with Essex County Council, local SEND schools and colleges and The Country Trust. It is a beautiful, tranquil setting and we are inspired by the work of Rudolf Steiner and anthroposophy.

We are a small, person-centred team with a good track record of delivery. During term time, there are around fifty people on the farm each week with over 2,500 social farming day places being offered every year.

The role reports to the Operations Manager. It requires previous experience of a similar role which includes managing a commercial kitchen, adhering to all food hygiene requirements, managing other people with a learning disability and/or autism, preparing weekly menus, stock taking and ordering of produce, working closely with the gardening team to understand what produce is available from the farm.

We take safeguarding of all vulnerable people on the farm very seriously and you will be required to complete an enhanced DBS check if successful. Selected candidates will be required to attend an interview.

Lauriston Farm Limited is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. Applicants must be willing to undergo protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and an enhanced DBS disclosure.

Please note this post is ‘exempt’ from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore, you will be required to declare any convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings that are not ‘protected’ (i.e. filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). The amendments to the Exceptions Order provide that certain ‘spent’ convictions and cautions are 'protected' and are not subject to disclosure to employers and cannot be taken into account. Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found on the Disclosure and Barring Service website.

Hours and salary

Normal working hours are 6 per day, 9am to 3pm, five days per week (lunch 1-2pm). Potential job share

The hourly rate of pay is £13.13

Location

The post will be based at Lauriston Farm, Lauriston Farm Chase, Maldon, Essex CM9 8AH.

What do we offer?

• The chance to join a community owned charitable co-operative with environmental and social justice at its core.
• Competitive salary
• 21 days holiday (excluding bank holidays) per year (FTE)
• Contributory company pension
• A supportive and collaborative working environment
• A beautiful and tranquil setting

LAURISTON FARM JOB DESCRIPTION

• Job Title: Biodynamic Kitchen Lead
• Salary: £13.13/hour
• Hours per week / Contract type: Up to 21 hours per week
• Team: Kitchen
• Reporting to: Operations Manager
• Location: Lauriston Farm, Goldhanger, Essex, CM9 8AH

Purpose of role

To manage the new kitchen including menus, liaising with the garden team to include seasonal Lauriston produce and ordering of off-farm ingredients. To manage the cooking, the kitchen assistant(s) and all associated food hygiene and health and safety regulations.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Manage preparation and cooking of lunch for staff, co-workers, volunteers and other farm visitors at a set price
• Work with colleagues and garden team to set weekly kitchen menu, using as much Lauriston produce as possible in the lunches
• Co-manage the kitchen budget with Operations Manager
• Manage health and safety and food hygiene within the kitchen area
• Manage and train the kitchen assistant(s)
• Manage liaison with suppliers, and place, track and receive orders for off-farm produce, following agreed guidelines on local and ethical produce
• Manage stock rotation, monitor food freshness, ensure minimal food waste and dispose of out-of-date items
• Manage the serving of lunches at the kitchen

Duties & Responsibilities for all posts

• Demonstrate and promote the values of Lauriston Farm Limited.
• Work in accordance with all Lauriston Farm policies including financial, equality & diversity and safeguarding
• Commit to continual professional development
• Play an active part within the wider Lauriston Farm team
• Perform other duties occasionally assigned to you to ensure the smooth running of the farm
• With consent from individuals, contribute regular information and photographs for the farm’s social media

Key Working Relationships

• Garden team
• Kitchen assistants
• Suppliers
• All kitchen customers

PERSON SPECIFICATION

(Essential= E, Desirable = D)

Experience, knowledge & skills

• Primary diagnosis of a learning disability and/or autism (E)
• Experience of researching recipes to use specific ingredients (E)
• Experience of stock rotation systems and ordering to ensure minimum food waste (E)
• Experience of managing budgets, ordering, and liaising with suppliers (E)
• Experience of preparing and cooking food for a specific number of people (E)
• Experience of overseeing and training people to perform specific kitchen tasks (E)
• Experience of managing health and safety and food hygiene in a kitchen environment (E)
• An innovative, flexible and enthusiastic work ethic, including a willingness to attend a maximum of three weekend trustee meetings plus the AGM each year (E)
• Commitment to the Lauriston Farm values of conservation and chemical free, biodynamic farming and the ability to communicate these values to others (E)
• Experience of working with people with learning difficulties and disabilities such as autism (D)
• An interest in anthroposophy (D)

Qualifications

• Full driving license or own means of transport to travel to work

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Discounted or free food
• Employee discount

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: Midnight on the 30th July 2025

Expected start date: End of August

Application information

To apply, please send your current CV, along with a letter of application detailing how you match the person specification, by midnight on 30th July 2025 to Hattie White (Operations Manager) hattie@lauristonfarm.co.uk

Interviews will start the following week

For further information please contact hattie@lauristonfarm.co.uk or 01621 788348.

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