Executive Chef

OSJCT Group; Melksham; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days holiday

Company pension

Life assurance

Free uniform

Free DBS

Employee Assistance Programme

Blue Light Card

My Rewards

Job summary

OSJCT Group is opening Melksham Gardens, a brand-new 80-bed care home in Melksham, Wiltshire, and seeks an Executive Chef to lead the catering service from day one. You’ll design menus, recruit and coach a hospitality team, and create exceptional dining experiences that support residents’ wellbeing.

You will join a forward-thinking not-for-profit provider, with opportunities to shape the kitchen and dining culture as the home mobilises and opens to residents.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Executive Chef or senior culinary leader in care/hospitality.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills to inspire a diverse hospitality team.
• Ability to develop menus reflecting residents’ dietary needs and preferences.

Responsibilities

• Deliver first-class catering services across the home and ensure exceptional dining experiences for residents.
• Lead and develop the hospitality team, setting standards and training colleagues.
• Plan menus, events and dining experiences with creativity and resident focus.
• Source quality ingredients, manage budgets and achieve financial targets.
• Maintain high standards of hygiene, safety and food quality in the kitchen.

Skills

Cooking

Leadership

Menu development

Job description

Executive Chef

Location: Melksham, Wiltshire

Salary: £41,000–£43,000 per annum

Contracted Hours: 40 hours per week

Contract Type: Permanent

MELKSHAM GARDENS – A BRAND-NEW CARE HOME OPENING IN 2027

Be part of something from the very beginning.

We’re looking for an experienced and passionate Executive Chef to join the team at Melksham Gardens, our brand-new 80-bed care home in Melksham.

RECRUITMENT OPEN DAY

Come and meet the team and find out more:

Wednesday 21st October10am – 3pmMelksham Town Hall – Council Chamber

Come along to find out more about Melksham Gardens, the Executive Chef role and what it’s like to be part of a brand-new care home team. We’d love to meet you!

A LITTLE ABOUT MELKSHAM GARDENS

Our new purpose-built home on Longleaze Lane will provide residential, nursing and dementia care, alongside respite and day care.

The home will feature 80 en-suite bedrooms, landscaped gardens, private dining, a cinema, gym and wellbeing facilities, activities room, salon and spa, and family accommodation. Innovative technology, including circadian lighting and acoustic monitoring, will support our person-centred approach to care.

A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY

Joining a brand-new home is exciting – but it is also different.

Depending on the progress of the home, you may join us during the preparation and mobilisation period or as we welcome our first residents. Your exact start date may therefore be subject to change and could be later than initially anticipated.

We’re looking for an experienced chef who is comfortable with change and excited to help shape a home from the very beginning. Your culinary expertise and leadership will be invaluable as the hospitality team comes together, menus are developed and the dining experience and standards of Melksham Gardens are established.

This is an opportunity to put your own stamp on a new kitchen, inspire your team and create a dining experience that residents can enjoy and look forward to every day.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As Executive Chef, you’ll play a pivotal role in delivering an exceptional dining and hospitality experience for our residents.

You’ll be responsible for the provision and management of a first-class catering service, helping to create a home where people love to live. Working closely with the senior team, you’ll bring creativity and inspiration to menu planning, special events and dining experiences, while leading and developing colleagues across the hospitality team.

You’ll work closely with suppliers to source quality ingredients that meet residents’ individual needs and preferences, while managing budgets and achieving financial targets. You’ll also ensure that the highest standards of food hygiene, safety and quality are maintained throughout the kitchen and catering environment.

As part of a brand-new home, you’ll have the opportunity to develop menus, establish kitchen processes and build a team that takes pride in delivering excellent food and service from day one.

We’re looking for someone who understands that great food is about more than what’s on the plate. It’s about creating enjoyable experiences, supporting residents’ wellbeing and helping make Melksham Gardens a place where residents, families and colleagues feel at home.

ABOUT YOU

You’ll have excellent cooking skills, a strong understanding of ingredients and food service, and a passion for producing high-quality meals that create a first-class dining experience.

You’ll be confident developing menus that reflect different dining experiences, accommodate individual preferences and meet the nutritional needs of our residents.

Alongside your culinary expertise, you’ll bring strong leadership skills and the ability to inspire, motivate and develop your team. You’ll know how to create a positive working environment where colleagues feel supported to grow in their roles and are encouraged to deliver their best.

You’ll also understand the importance of managing costs, working effectively with suppliers and maintaining a safe, hygienic and financially sustainable kitchen.

Most importantly, you’ll be adaptable, creative and enthusiastic about the opportunity to help establish a new care home. You’ll take pride in your work and be excited to create something special from the very beginning.

AND IN RETURN

We’re currently the second largest not-for-profit provider in the UK, meaning we reinvest every penny we make into our homes, residents’ lives and team members.

We’re committed to supporting our colleagues to grow and develop, offering opportunities for career progression and training within a nurturing, engaging and rewarding environment.

Here are some of the benefits you’ll enjoy as a valued member of our team:

• 28 days holiday (including Bank Holidays)
• A Company pension
• Life assurance
• Free uniform
• Free DBS
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme
• Blue Light Card and “My Rewards” programme, offering discounts on shopping, days out, restaurants and much more

BE PART OF THE BEGINNING

If you’re an experienced Executive Chef who wants to bring their passion for food, leadership and hospitality to a brand-new care home, we’d love to hear from you.

Come and help us make Melksham Gardens a truly exceptional place to live, work and belong, creating a dining experience that residents will love and a kitchen team you can be proud of.