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

Job description

The Pizza Lead / Kitchen Shift Lead will help establish and run Catford House’s new pizza offer at The Catford House, ensuring a high-quality, well-organised and financially sustainable operation. The role combines hands-on pizza production with day-to-day kitchen shift leadership. This includes dough and prep management, leading service, maintaining excellent food hygiene and allergen standards, supporting ordering and stock control, opening and closing the kitchen, and helping train and support other team members. 

This is a practical, fast-paced role suited to someone who enjoys both making excellent pizza and taking ownership of smooth, consistent kitchen operations. As part of GCDA, the postholder will also contribute to The Catford House - a welcoming, community-minded venue that balances commercial performance with social value. 

Provisional Working pattern: 

• Tuesday: 9am-4pm (prep only) 

• Thursday: 2.30pm–9.30pm 

• Friday: 2.30pm–9.30pm 

• Saturday: 7-hour shift within the window of 11.00am–9.30pm 

• Sunday: 7-hour shift within the window of 11.00am–9.30pm 

Flexibility will be required for training, occasional extra prep time, stock takes, events and launch-period adjustments. 

Specific Duties 

1) Kitchen and Pizza Service 

• Lead pizza service during allocated shifts, ensuring pizzas are prepared, cooked and presented to a consistently high standard. 

• Take responsibility for the pizza section during service, including hand-stretching, topping, oven work, finishing and pass coordination. 

• Ensure the kitchen is fully set up before service and closed down properly at the end of shift. 

• Maintain a clean, organised and efficient section at all times. 

• Monitor ticket flow and service pace, communicating clearly with front-of-house colleagues to keep service smooth and customers informed. 

• Help maintain a calm, solutions-focused approach during busy periods. 

2) Dough, Prep and Production 

• Prepare, portion, ball, label, store and manage dough in line with agreed methods, prep schedules and food safety procedures. 

• Complete daily prep to the required standard, ensuring readiness for service across dough, sauces, toppings and any side or supplementary items. 

• Monitor dough and prep levels across the trading week and flag issues early. 

• Ensure correct rotation, date labelling and storage of all food items. 

• Support the development and maintenance of prep lists, pars and production routines that minimise waste and support consistent quality. 

3) Shift Leadership 

• Act as shift lead for the pizza kitchen on allocated shifts. 

• Support the day-to-day direction of kitchen assistants or support staff during service and prep. 

• Lead by example in punctuality, work rate, cleanliness, standards and team behaviour. 

• Help train new team members in dough handling, prep, service flow, cleaning routines and safe working practices. 

• Support the manager in embedding the systems introduced during the training/incubation period so the operation can run confidently in-house. 

4) Stock, Ordering and Cost Control 

• Support weekly ordering and supplier communication as requested by the assistant manager. 

• Receive and check deliveries, ensuring quality, accuracy, correct storage and appropriate reporting of issues. 

• Monitor stock levels and communicate shortages, over-ordering risks or waste concerns promptly. 

• Help maintain recipe consistency, portion control and sensible product usage. 

• Contribute to keeping the pizza offer commercially viable through careful use of ingredients, reduced waste and good shift organisation. 

5) Opening, Closing and Operational Standards 

• Open and close the pizza kitchen safely and consistently in line with venue procedures. 

• Carry out daily and weekly cleaning schedules. 

• Ensure equipment, utensils and surfaces are maintained in safe, clean and usable condition. 

• Report maintenance issues, equipment concerns or compliance risks to the manager promptly. 

• Support practical kitchen organisation so that service, cleaning and replenishment can be carried out efficiently. 

6) Customer Experience 

• Take pride in producing food that is consistent, attractive and enjoyable for customers. 

• Work positively with front-of-house colleagues to create a warm, welcoming and efficient customer experience. 

• Respond constructively to feedback and help resolve issues quickly and professionally. 

• Contribute ideas to improve the pizza offer, service flow and customer experience over time. 

Communications 

• Communicate clearly and professionally with managers, front-of-house staff, trainers, suppliers and colleagues. 

• Keep the manager informed of stock issues, prep needs, service problems, maintenance concerns and any incidents affecting food safety, service quality or team performance. 

• Contribute to handovers, shift notes and simple operational records as required. 

• Support a positive team culture through respectful, direct and constructive communication. 

Policy compliance 

Comply with all GCDA policies and procedures with particular attention to; 

• All Health and Safety procedures and risk assessments 

• Food hygiene, food safety, allergen management and kitchen cleaning procedures 

• GCDA Equality and Diversity Policy 

• GCDA Vulnerable adult & Child Safeguarding Policy 

• GCDA Team Values 

• Customer Care. Ensure that you, as a representative of GCDA, offer the highest standards of customer care and remember you are representing GCDA at all times. 

Other 

• Attend training as requested 

• Participate fully in the pizza incubation and training programme and support the embedding of new systems and ways of working 

• Work evenings and weekends as required by the rota 

• Perform other reasonable duties requested by your line manager that support GCDA 

 

Person Specification 

 

Desirable (D) or Essential (E) 

Application Form (AF) / Interview (I) 

1. Experience working in a pizza kitchen, fast-paced kitchen, street food operation or similar food business 

E 

AF/I 

2. Experience of preparing and working with fresh dough during service and prep 

E 

AF/I 

3. Ability to lead a shift confidently, including prioritising tasks and keeping service organised 

E 

AF/I 

4. Experience training, guiding or supporting more junior team members 

D 

AF/I 

5. Good understanding of food hygiene, kitchen cleanliness and safe food handling 

E 

AF/I 

6. Good understanding of allergens and the importance of accurate allergen communication 

E 

AF/I 

7. Experience of stock handling, deliveries, rotation, prep management or waste reduction 

E 

AF/I 

8. Ability to stay calm, organised and effective in a busy service environment 

E 

AF/I 

9. Strong communication skills and the ability to work well with both kitchen and front-of-house colleagues 

E 

AF/I 

10. Reliable time management, punctuality and ability to work independently when needed 

E 

AF/I 

11. Interest in helping shape a new food offer and improve systems over time 

D 

AF/I 

12. An understanding of and commitment to Equal Opportunities 

E 

AF/I 

13. Enthusiasm for working in a community-focused organisation serving diverse local communities 

E 

AF/I 

14. Understanding of, or interest in, social enterprise and community-led hospitality 

D 

AF/I 

15. Resident of Lewisham with strong interest in the local area and community 

D 

AF/I 

 

Application information

Group interviews will take place in person at The Catford House pub on 2nd April between 10am - 1pm

For the full application pack please email haley@gcda.org.uk

Please mention Roots to Work when applying for these jobs