Assistant Chef – AR

Carrington Blake Recruitment; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Merseyside Police is seeking an experienced Assistant Chef to support the Head Chef in delivering high-quality food across a large-scale catering operation at Rose Hill Headquarters, Merseyside. You will prepare food for restaurant services, events and off-site requirements, while maintaining hygiene, managing costs and aiding day-to-day kitchen operations.

You will deputise for the Head Chef when needed, ensuring efficient kitchen performance and adherence to allergen and safety standards.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a high-volume catering environment.
• Strong knowledge of food hygiene and allergen management.
• Experience developing menus and costings.
• Ability to manage stock and procurement with cost awareness.
• Proficiency with EPOS and catering software.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and cook high-quality food for a large customer base.
• Support development of menus, recipes and costings.
• Prepare food for restaurant services, events and off-site catering.
• Guide kitchen staff to ensure efficient service.
• Maintain food hygiene, stock checks and allergen records.
• Assist with ordering ingredients and supplier quality checks.
• Monitor costs and minimise waste to manage the catering budget.
• Utilise EPOS and other systems to support stock and sales.
• Deputise for the Head Chef as required.

Skills

High-volume catering

Cost control

Menu development

Food safety

Allergen management

Organisational skills

Communication

Time management

Education

City & Guilds 706/1

City & Guilds 706/2

NVQ qualification

Tools

EPOS

Catering management systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Assistant Chef

Location: Rose Hill Headquarters, Merseyside Police
Contract: 12 months
Working Hours: Full-time, Monday to Friday, 6:30am–2:30pm
Grade: C

About the Role

Merseyside Police is looking for an experienced Assistant Chef to support the Head Chef in delivering high-quality food within a busy, large-scale catering operation. The role involves preparing food for restaurant and kiosk services, hospitality events, meetings and off-site operational requirements.

You will help ensure food is prepared to a high standard while maintaining excellent food hygiene, managing costs and supporting the smooth day-to-day running of the kitchen. You will also deputise for the Head Chef when required.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and cook high-quality food for a large customer base, maintaining excellent standards of presentation, taste and consistency.
• Support the development of creative menus, recipes and costings, including healthy, vegetarian, vegan and other dietary options.
• Prepare food for restaurant services, hospitality events, meetings and off-site catering requirements.
• Support and guide kitchen staff to ensure efficient food preparation and service.
• Maintain food hygiene, health and safety standards, including allergen management and accurate record-keeping.
• Assist with ordering ingredients, monitoring stock and checking supplier quality and prices.
• Monitor food costs and minimise waste to support the effective management of the catering budget.
• Use EPOS, click-and-collect systems and other catering software to support stock control, sales monitoring and service performance.
• Deputise for the Head Chef when required, helping to ensure the kitchen operates efficiently.

Essential Requirements

• City & Guilds 706/1 and 706/2, or an equivalent NVQ qualification.
• Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate.
• Proven experience working in a high-volume catering environment, with evidence of kitchen responsibilities and catering for a customer base of over 1,500.
• Experience preparing high-quality food and supporting menu development.
• Knowledge of modern cuisine, including vegetarian and vegan options.
• Experience supporting food cost control, stock management and procurement.
• Strong understanding of food safety, hygiene and allergen legislation.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office, EPOS and catering management systems.
• Strong organisational, communication and time-management skills, with the ability to work independently and support a kitchen team.

Working Arrangements

The role is based at Rose Hill Headquarters, with standard working hours of Monday to Friday, 6:30am to 2:30pm. Occasional weekend and out-of-hours work may be required to support special events or critical operational requirements.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for a practical, organised and customer‑focused chef who takes pride in producing excellent food, works well as part of a team and understands the importance of food quality, safety and cost control. You should be confident working independently and capable of stepping in to support the Head Chef when needed.