FOOD PROGRAMME LEAD AT THE COOKOUT

Job Description

Job Description

Food Programme Lead at The Cookout

Job Title: Food Programme Lead

Location: HMP Isis, Belmarsh Way, London SE28 0FD

Hours: Flexible working options available (part-time or full-time considered). Typical hours fall between 8am–4pm, depending on the role and your availability.

Contract Type: Permanent

Remuneration: £38,000 pro rata

Start Date: May 2026 (subject to vetting)

Application details: Please submit a CV and cover letter to judy@foodbehindbars.co.uk before midnight on Monday 6th April.

What is The Cookout?

 A community kitchen inside a prison

Located at HMP/YOI Isis in southeast London, The Cookout is a new type of community kitchen that combines vocational training and community support - producing hundreds of nutritious meals for those most in need, whilst enabling young people in prison to build skills to gain employment and to make a positive contribution to their local community. 

The Cookout is the prison’s staff restaurant, operated by learners. As well as feeding the staff, The Cookout also produces nutritious meals for the community. Learners are able to gain hands-on experience both in the kitchen and front of house, whilst preparing tasty, nutritious meals which are then distributed to those in need in the local community by the Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency, a social enterprise focusing on supporting sustainable communities. 

The initiative was set up as a partnership between the prison and a group of likeminded organisations: Food Behind Bars, The Right Course, Hawksmoor and KERB. This year, we will be relaunching the space as a full FBB operation - managing the cafe day-to-day and ensuring it provides the best possible outcomes for the prisoners it trains. We will also be expanding its offering beyond just feeding staff and the community, by supplying fresh food to the visits centre and prisoners on enhanced wings. 

Our goal is for The Cookout to become a community cafe and training space at the heart of the prison. We want it to give learners the opportunity to test and hone their own food ideas - to support their personal and professional development, as well as boosting employability post-release. 

The Cookout has already been producing and distributing 250-300 meals a month to a variety of community projects across the borough. These vital community projects are then able to donate each meal to their beneficiaries – these have included refugees, the elderly, young families and more. Some of the local community groups The Cookout has donated meals to so far include Migrant Hub, World of Hope, WCCC, Afril, World of Life, Glory Days and Rastafarian Movement

Job Requirements

Job purpose

We are looking for a dynamic and inspiring individual to play a hands-on role in operating the space and training its learners. As Food Programme Lead, you will be responsible for the everyday smooth running of The Cookout - ensuring it is providing delicious food and drink to the people who come through its door. You will also be responsible for managing its other supply chains - from monthly community meals to weekly food for the visits centres. You will have a real opportunity to develop, shape and establish The Cookout during its relaunch, ensuring its aligning with FBB’s values of good food for everyone in society. 

On a day-to-day basis, you will have the opportunity to lead a team of prisoners who are employed to work in The Cookout. You will work closely with them to develop their skills by providing in-kitchen training, and working with our partners to establish employment opportunities on release. 

We are looking for a passionate chef and food educator who can help develop a training programme that champions the learner’s own ideas and ambitions - whether that’s developing their own street food business or simply sharing the food of their culture. You will play a pivotal role in harnessing each individual’s potential and ensuring The Cookout provides a platform where they can truly learn, develop and shine. 

The role will also involve menu development, ordering, implementing health and safety systems, tracking each learner’s progress and developing The Cookout brand. You will manage relationships with all the key stakeholders - the prison, visits team, community food projects, suppliers and partner organisations. You will also be responsible for the supervision of the learners, as well as line managing the Food Programme Assistant too. This is a unique opportunity to be part of a one-of-a-kind initiative that combines training, employment and community impact. 

Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day running of The Cookout cafe, ensuring smooth service, high food standards and a welcoming environment.
• Prepare and deliver fresh, nutritious food for the prison staff restaurant, community meal programme, visits centre and other internal supply streams.
• Lead and supervise a team of prisoner learners, supporting them to develop practical kitchen and front-of-house skills.
• Deliver hands-on training in food preparation, kitchen operations, hygiene and service standards.
• Support learners to develop confidence, creativity and employability.
• Work with learners to test and develop menu ideas that reflect their interests, cultures and food ambitions.
• Develop seasonal menus and oversee food preparation to ensure quality, nutrition and cost efficiency.
• Manage stock, ordering and supplier relationships.
• Maintain high standards of food safety, hygiene and health & safety in line with prison and food industry regulations.
• Track learner progress and contribute to the development of the training programme and learner outcomes.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with prison staff, partner organisations and community food projects.
• Coordinate the preparation and distribution of meals for community partners across Greenwich.
• Support the development and relaunch of The Cookout brand as a flagship Food Behind Bars project.
• Line manage the Food Programme Assistant and support their development within the programme.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of The Cookout as a sustainable training kitchen and community cafe.

Requirements

Essential

• Professional experience working in a commercial kitchen, café or hospitality environment.
• Strong cooking skills and a passion for producing fresh, nutritious food.
• Experience training, mentoring or supervising others in a kitchen or educational setting.
• Ability to lead a team with empathy, patience and strong communication skills.
• Organised and proactive, with the ability to manage multiple operational responsibilities.
• Strong understanding of food safety, hygiene and kitchen management systems.
• Commitment to social impact and belief in the power of food, training and employment to change lives.
• Ability to build positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Resilient and adaptable, with the ability to work in a structured and secure environment.
• Willingness to undergo prison vetting.
• Commitment to the values and mission of Food Behind Bars.

Desirable

• Experience working in social enterprise, community food programmes or training environments.
• Experience working with young people or individuals facing barriers to employment.
• Menu development experience, particularly with diverse cuisines or street food concepts.
• Level 3 Food Safety certification or equivalent.
• Experience managing or launching a cafe, kitchen or food project.

Additional information

• The successful candidate will have to go through the Ministry of Justice security clearance before commencing employment.
• Subject to vetting clearance, the successful candidate will also have to attend induction training at HMP Isis, as well as completing FBB’s own training. 
• HMP Isis is based in Woolwich and is accessible via car or public transport.

Job Location

HMP Isis
Belmarsh Way
London SE28 0FD