Job vacancy: Culinary Lead
Full time – permanent
Middlesbrough
£34,000
It is an exciting time to join FareShare North East as we expand our activity with a new Hub. The new site has a new commercial kitchen and training kitchen facilities, designed to support the local area to further utilise surplus food.
FareShare North East is looking to recruit a Culinary Lead, a new role supporting FSNE to maximise the kitchens’ impact and value in the Tees Valley area. We are looking for someone who is innovative, creative and passionate about making more food available to more people and reducing food waste.
The role will oversee the commercial kitchen function, which will include preparing meals from surplus food for our volunteers and visitors, being an active part of projects and initiatives that include prepared food and oversee catering for larger events as required onsite.
The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the kitchen, ensuring the production of high-quality meals, maintaining food safety standards, and managing kitchen staff and volunteers. This role involves creativity in menu planning, cost management, and delivering excellent inclusive culinary experiences to all who dine at FareShare North East.
The role will also oversee the training kitchen function, which will include delivering workshops and masterclasses to volunteers and community groups, providing them with the skills needed to prepare meals using surplus food. This role will focus on working with the local community to ensure engagement is maximised.
The postholder will work closely with the Director of Social Enterprise, the Operations Team as well as the broader Senior Leadership Team.
You will be someone who enjoys playing a major part of a skilled, supportive team within a values-led organisation. This is the sort of role where you can get involved in all aspects of what we do and where no two days are the same. You’ll be contributing to a culture of togetherness, inclusivity, respect and passion in a vision that no good food goes to waste in the North East of England, maximising the social value of surplus food through the groups the organisation supports.
How to apply
To apply, please refer to the job description and email a detailed CV along with a supporting statement (the supporting statement should be no more than three sides) to [email protected]. Your supporting statement should reflect what makes you a suitable candidate, how you meet the skills and experience set out in the job description and any other supporting information relevant to the role.
The deadline for applications is 11th March 2026 at 10am.
Interviews will be held during the week commencing 16th March 2026.
To arrange a chat about the role, please email Joe with your availability.
