Manchester City Council is recruiting a Cook to provide meals for residents at Etrop Grange, its service for people experiencing homelessness or needing emergency accommodation. The part-time, permanent post is advertised on the council's official jobs site, with applications closing at 11.59pm on 22 November 2026.

The role is based on site in Manchester and involves 25 hours a week, Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 2.15pm, including a 15-minute break. The advertised salary is Grade 3, £26,427 to £26,827 a year pro rata, with the bar at £26,427. The vacancy was published on 6 November 2026 and carries job ID 8733.

What the role involves

The Cook will be responsible for the safe, effective and efficient delivery of the catering service at Etrop Grange, providing nutritious meals for residents and helping to create a welcoming and supportive environment. The council says the work contributes to the wider homelessness service by supporting residents' wellbeing and recovery through reliable, high-quality food.

Day-to-day duties include preparing and serving daily breakfast and hot meals for residents, including vegetarian options and meals for weekend provision, planning weekly menus, ordering, receiving, storing and managing food stock in line with council procedures, and maintaining high standards of kitchen cleanliness and compliance with food hygiene, health and safety and COSHH requirements.

The Cook will work with support staff and colleagues within the homelessness service to keep the catering provision running smoothly and to meet residents' needs.

Who can apply

The council is looking for a compassionate, organised and adaptable person who can provide a consistently high-quality catering service in a fast-paced environment. Essential criteria include experience of working in a catering environment and preparing meals for large groups, knowledge of food hygiene and health and safety requirements, the ability to plan and organise workloads including menu planning and stock management, and a flexible, compassionate and non-judgemental approach when working with vulnerable adults.

Applicants are asked to include in their personal statement an example of when they catered for a large number of people and to explain their role in ensuring the successful delivery of the service. The council says it may use artificial intelligence to support an application, but all examples must be the applicant's own and based on real experience.

Checks and how to apply

Roles at Grades 1 to 3 are initially advertised only to Manchester residents and internal candidates, and an applicant counts as a Manchester resident if they live within the boundaries of the City of Manchester. The council states that applicants must already have a valid right to work in the UK, as it cannot offer visa sponsorship for this role.

The successful candidate will need an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, and the appointment is subject to satisfactory references and other pre-employment checks. Interviews will be held face to face. Applications are made through the Manchester City Council jobs advert.