Catering Assistant / Chef

Max Emerald; Colchester; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A professional catering service provider in Colchester is seeking a Catering Assistant / Chef to manage and contribute to a high-quality catering service at Essex Outdoor Centres. The successful candidate will ensure hygiene standards are met, assist in menu planning, and oversee staff operations. Candidates should hold a Level 2 catering qualification and possess good organizational and customer service skills. Flexible availability for weekend and evening work is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in a large volume catering environment.
• Ability to maintain cleanliness and hygiene standards.
• Experience in preparing, cooking, and serving food.

Responsibilities

• Ensure catering objectives are met.
• Plan work schedules for staff.
• Implement hygiene practices and regulations.
• Prepare and serve meals to high standards.
• Manage food orders and waste control.

Skills

Catering experience

First Aid certification

Food Hygiene certification

Organizational skills

Customer service skills

Education

Level 2 catering qualification

Job description

The Catering Assistant / Chef will contribute to managing the delivery of a professional catering service to the visitors of the Essex Outdoor Centres, ensuring the customers experience meets and aims to exceed their expectations. Ensuring a clean, safe, tidy and welcoming place for customers to consume food, undertaking and supervising food preparation and processing, in line with safe food processes and practices, complying at all times with food and health and safety requirements

PLEASE NOTE – You need to be available for weekend and evening working patterns through the summer. Flexible working required (JOB LOCATED IN MERSEA IN COLCHESTER)

Responsibilities

• Work alongside the Catering Lead to ensure the Catering Department delivers its objectives, ensuring best value for money and accurate in-year spend.
• Contribute to the planning of work schedules and ensure staff are allocated according to business need.
• Contribute to managing all staff working in the Catering Department, to ensure that FTE, Seasonal and Capita/Agency staff all have a deep understanding of their roles to increase efficiency and continuity of great service.
• Responsible for ensuring hygiene practices and regulations are stringently implemented in the kitchen and areas where food is handled/served whilst maintaining appropriate health and safety standards for all catering and serving areas to ensure the wellbeing of customers.
• Contribute to the management of on-site vending and the creation of menu plans for the centre, making appropriate provision for special dietary requirements and budget limitations.
• Contribute to the ordering of food and other supplies, stock control and controlling waste at a required level, whilst ensuring the correct, safe and economical use of equipment and fuel. Complying with procurement and financial processes.
• Engage with appropriate stakeholders to define requirements and achieve quality, timely and value for money services.
• Prepare, cook and, where necessary, serve meals and beverages to a standard and quality expected by Essex Outdoors and its customers. Carry out associated cleaning duties if required.
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance framework.

Requirements

• Possesses a Level 2 catering qualification and / or experience of working within a large volume catering environment.
• Current First Aid and Food Hygiene certificates.
• Ability to develop skills and knowledge within role.
• Ability to ensure the maintenance of a high standard of cleanliness and hygiene for all resources to comply with statutory regulations.
• Experience of preparation, cooking and service of food and beverages to the required standard and volume with the ability to create and follow agreed menus and recipes.
• Ability to use kitchen and cleaning equipment and train others in the correct use of this equipment.
• Ability to manage and support the work of others and show good organisational skill.
• Good communication skills, both verbal and written with experience of delivering excellent customer service.
• Ability to prioritise own workload and that of a team.