22.5-30 hours per week. £13.18 per hour.
The Ocean Conservation Trust at the National Marine Aquarium is looking for an enthusiastic Chef to join our team, to deliver a variety of high-quality light lunches and snacks as well as assist with our out of hoursdelivery in relation to the seasonal nature of our business that is consistent with the National Marine Aquarium brand. This is an opportunity for someone who is passionate about food to display their excellent culinary skills whilst having a good work-life balance.
This is a permanent position of 22.5-30 hours per week. The rate of pay is £13.18 per hour. You will be working a 7.5 hour shift, 3-4 days per week on a rota basis. Working hours will vary between 7:00am to10:00pm depending on the events scheduled. Working days will include weekends and bank holidays. There will be an opportunity to work overtime when functions or dining experiences are scheduled. Due to the seasonal nature of the business, flexibility is required that includes, being available to work throughout the school holidays and provide holiday cover.
The catering team play a vital role in delivering a great guest experience to all our visitors at the National Marine Aquarium. They have a keen eye for detail and an organised approach. Along with our front of house staff, they are real ambassadors for the company and are committed to consistently delivering high standards.
You will be joining a passionate team of people who care about marine conservation and customer care in one of the South West’s top visitor attractions. The successful candidate will be:
• Qualified chef with proven experience
• Hold a Level 2 in professional cookery or equivalent
• Maintain high standards of food hygiene and H&S
• Passionate and knowledgeable about fresh, local, quality ingredients
• An excellent team player who is friendly and approachable
For more information about the role please download the Job Description and Person Specification.
To apply: Please submit a covering letter explaining which role you are applying for and why you believe you are best suited for it, along with your CV showing suitable experience and qualifications to: Victoria Spurdle, Hospitality Manager: recruitment@oceanconservationtrust.org
Closing Date: 5:00pm Sunday 23rd August 2026
We will review applications and interview candidates as they apply.
In line with current legislation all applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. As part of the recruitment process you will be asked to provide documented evidence of eligibility in the form of a passport or birth certificate.
The OCT operates an Equality and Diversity Policy and is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community – a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. All applications will be judged solely on merit, however we particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented in the workforce.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a suitable candidate is found.
Only candidates invited for interview will be contacted.
For more information about the role, please download the Job Description.