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.

Kitchen Leads (Part time & Full time)

Limited Company- Community Cooperative
Colchester, Essex

Posted: 15 Jul 2026

Deadline: 22 Jul 2026

Compensation: £13.45 per hour

Living Wage employer

Paid Full-time Part-time

Job description

We are looking for two new members to take the reins of our kitchen here at The Commons Cafe 

Common Ground Colchester is a community cooperative based in the heart of Colchester, running The Commons Café and community kitchen at The Minories. Founded in 2023 by members of the local community, we exist to provide affordable, nourishing food — cooked by local people, inspired by local produce, and served with genuine care

Full time | 37- 40 hours

Part time | 20 - 25 hours per week

Cafe open hours : Wednesday - Sunday 10am-4pm 

Lunch service : 12-3pm 

Breakfast : 10-12pm Friday and Saturday 

Around our cafe food service, where we serve a range of cake, pastries and patties (all plant based) and a lunch menu made with local, organic and seasonal produce. We also offer evening menu's and wedding canapes. We would love the new kitchen team to be able to take on all areas of our offerings, with space for new ideas and creativity! 

All of our cakes are made by our dedicated cake team, but an interest in sourdough & pastry making is an advantage 

You do not need to be a fully established chef with a perfect CV, but you do need to be clean, capable, responsible, organised, creative and ready to take initiative

We are looking for someone with a love of good food & organic produce, with a proven record for creating magic in the kitchen. Responsibilities include 

• Lead service, ensuring smooth, high-quality delivery

• Manage inventory, ordering, and stock rotation

• Maintain a clean, organised kitchen environment and uphold all food safety and hygiene standards

• Collaborate with front-of-house and the Common Ground team on operations and cooperative values

• Support and mentor kitchen staff and volunteers

• Assist with preparation and delivery of evening event catering as required

A perfect opportunity to join a creative, cooperative and community driven space. What we can offer you

• The real living wage

• Paid lunch breaks  

• Staff discounts on food and items at Commons Cafe 

• A democratic voice in how the cooperative is run 

• Being part of something meaningful — community, sustainability, local food, real social impact

• A workplace that is inclusive, respectful, and actively anti-exploitative

Application information

Please email your CV and covering letter to gabysvw@commongroundcolchester.co.uk

Please send:

• A short introduction about yourself

• Your CV or relevant experience

• Any examples of the food you've made, photos or via socials 

• Whether you have Level 2 or Level 3 Food Safety

Please mention Roots to Work when applying for these jobs