The posting
West Island School is seeking to appoint a Food Technician on a full-time basis. This is a Support Staff Contract position from November 2026 that is active for 10.5 months of each year (Summer Break is unpaid).
The technician is responsible for supporting the teaching and learning in Food & Technology classes within the school. To achieve this, the technician will undertake the following Responsibilities:
1. Curriculum Support & Student Safety
- Assisting teaching staff during practical lessons to ensure students can use equipment safely and correctly.
- Ensuring all raw ingredients, tools, and work areas are fully prepared ahead of lessons, and that student workstations are kept tidy, hygienic, and organized during and after classes.
- Preparing food-related materials for activities led by teaching staff, including experiential learning programs (Horizons Week), as required.
2. Hygiene, Food Safety & Maintenance
- Cleaning, checking, and maintaining all food utensils, commercial/domestic kitchen equipment, and machinery on a frequent basis to ensure optimal working order.
- Offering ad-hoc support to School Management by sharing food safety and quality expertise if needed or occasionally assisting with routine canteen observations to help ensure basic hygiene standards.
- Managing daily cleaning of sinks, draining boards, and topping up washing supplies; executing weekly deep-cleaning (bleaching brushes/sponges, cleaning cookers, ovens, drawers, and bookshelves).
- Ensuring thorough cleaning, sanitization, and spraying of rooms during non-classroom times, including regular wiping of "out-of-reach" surfaces.
- Maintaining strict allergen control and segregation protocols in all storage and preparation areas to prevent cross-contamination.
3. Procurement, Inventory & Stock Control
- Checking prices, obtaining competitive quotations for replacement equipment and kitchen supplies, and preparing Purchase Orders in strict adherence to school financial policies and procedures.
- Responsible for ordering stock, checking deliveries, and local shopping/sourcing as required.
- Correctly storing food, managing shelf-life, and implementing strict stock rotation
- Overseeing the washing, drying, and storage of linen, tea towels, and student aprons.
4. Professional Development & Administration
- Completing mandatory school-provided Safeguarding and Child Protection courses upon appointment and at required renewal intervals.
- Attaining and maintaining the Design & Technology Association (D&TA) Health & Safety certification, hygiene and safety training for food technology.
- Advising and coordinating with the school’s cleaning staff regarding specialized or heavy-duty cleaning tasks required in the food technology spaces.
- Assisting in overseeing the safe and hygienic removal of food waste materials from classrooms.
Performing other administrative duties as delegated, including photocopying, sorting invoices, keeping records, inventory checks, and constructing equipment required as teaching aids.
Qualifications & Experience:
- Secondary school graduate or equivalent vocational qualification in Culinary Arts, Hospitality, or Food Science.
- Proven experience of handling large-batch ingredient preparation, ideally within an educational institution, commercial catering, or a busy culinary environment
- Valid First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain it immediately upon employment)
Abilities & Knowledge
- Previous baking and cooking experience
- Fluent English; Cantonese would be an advantage
- Ability to multi-task and manage tight classroom rotation setups efficiently under time pressure.
- Ability to confidently demonstrate and enforce basic kitchen safety rules and machine handling to students.
- Competence in using digital procurement platforms, online stock databases, and spreadsheet tracking.
- Previous knowledge of preparing and weighing food.
- Strong working knowledge of hygiene standards in Hong Kong.
- Competency in allergen control and food hygiene practices standard to institutional or educational kitchens
For enquiries, please contact Rathi Nandakumar @ 28191962 or Email: [email protected]
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and offers may be extended prior to the job closing date. We strongly recommend early applications as we reserve the right to appoint candidates earlier than the closing date.
By applying for this position, your application may be considered for other opportunities (senior-level roles, head of department, etc.) within ESF.
ESF is an Equal Opportunities Employer
The English Schools Foundation (ESF) is fully committed to providing equal employment opportunities. ESF will not discriminate on the basis of age, race, colour, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, religion, veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, creed, citizenship or any other status protected by local laws or regulations.
Personal data provided by job applicants will be used strictly in accordance with the ESF's Personal Data Policy, a copy of which will be provided upon request.
ESF is dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of all students in our care and expects all applicants to uphold this commitment. We adhere to rigorous recruitment practices, with all appointments contingent upon an interview, identity verification, criminal background checks (including ICPC, SCRC, and other international background checks as appropriate), assessment of social media presence, and positive references.
In accordance with the Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025 guidelines, ESF may perform online checks for all shortlisted candidates prior to the interview.
About Us
The English Schools Foundation (ESF) is the largest English-medium international school organisation in Hong Kong. Our 22 schools and comprehensive programme of extra-curricular activities bring out the best in every student through a personalised approach to learning and by inspiring curious minds.
There are over 18,000 students from 75 different nationalities in ESF kindergartens, primary, secondary and all-through schools. www.esf.edu.hk
About the Team
West Island School is a world class co-educational IB World School with a leading reputation in Hong Kong. Our school motto “Strength from Diversity” reflects that the school caters for students from over 40 nationalities. The school has a strong focus on developing responsible global citizenship teaching through the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Courage, compassion and service beyond the classroom define our students. We have a reputation for academic excellence and the vast majority of students graduate to a range of leading worldwide universities after completing the IBDP or IBCP programme. In 2020, our average score for the IB Diploma was 37, and 29% of students achieved 40 points or more. Extracurricular activities are offered termly through an extensive CAS programme (Community, Activity and Service). We have a strong focus on pastoral care to support the whole development of young people.
https://wis.esf.edu.hk
