Executive Head Chef - 60K plus Bonus

TN United Kingdom; Ashtead; On-site; GBP 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks an Executive Head Chef to lead culinary operations at a prestigious educational institution. This exciting role involves managing a diverse team, developing innovative menus, and ensuring the highest food safety standards. With a focus on local and seasonal produce, you'll inspire your brigade to deliver exceptional meals daily. Join a forward-thinking company that values excellence and creativity in catering, offering a supportive environment for your professional growth and development.

Benefits

Free Meals on Duty

Cycle to Work Scheme

Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Leave

Employee Assistance Programme

Workplace Pension

Team & Company Social Events

Unrivalled Individual Training and Development

Well Established Apprenticeship Programme

Recommend a Friend Bonus

Volunteers Leave

Qualifications

• 5+ years in a senior leadership role in catering.
• Proven experience in creating innovative, high-quality menus.

Responsibilities

• Manage food production and service to the highest standards.
• Ensure adherence to food safety and hygiene regulations.
• Plan and devise menus based on nutritional value.

Skills

Culinary Expertise

Leadership

Menu Development

Food Safety Standards

Team Management

Education

Recognized Cooking Qualification

Level 3 Food Hygiene Qualification

Job description

Job Description:

Executive Head Chef - 60K plus Bonus

Ashtead Park

Contract: Full Time , Permanent
Salary: £ 60,000 per annum + Bonus
Hours: 40 per week

A day and boarding co-educational school for pupils from year 3 to 6th form in Ashtead Park, Surrey. Catering for 950 students and teachers daily. We offer a core feeding of Breakfast, lunch, supper, tuckshop twice daily, 6th form cafÃ, internal and external hospitality. This is a mix of term time only, term time plus 4 weeks and 52 week depending on role and operates 7 days a week. Additional benefit to this location is free parking on site.

Thomas Franks are looking for an established Executive Head Chef to join one of its flagship locations. You must have a high-end events and weddings background alongside experience in education catering. You must be able to use your culinary expertise and business acumen to drive the locations food vision - showcasing the best local & seasonal produce available from our family-owned suppliers. Dividing your time between kitchen management and hands-on cooking, you'll develop menus, uphold the highest food safety standards, and inspire your brigade to deliver outstanding meals for every service.

The Executive Head Chef will be tasked with managing both food GP and labour costs, provide strong leadership and direction to the brigade and work closely with the Operations team to fine tune the food concept within all outlets of the location.

We require an Executive Head Chef with a minimum of 5 years in a senior leadership role, with a proven experience of creating innovative, high-quality menus. Experience of managing a diverse team with an ability to offer inspirational leadership and support are a prerequisite for the role.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS (TASKS & RESPONSIBILTIES):

• To operate, monitor and control the Food Production and Service Production to ensure that the food is produced and presented to the highest possible standards, according to the stated Thomas Franks standards and all specified client requirements.
• Responsible for ensuring that the Thomas Franks Fresh Food and Brand Standards are adhered to by all members of staff, making the best use of local, sustainably sourced and in-season produce at all times using the Company approved suppliers.
• Ensure that the menus are planned are devised for their nutritional value, making the best use of current food styles and customer expectations for daily service and any functions, hospitality, or special events.
• Always ensure the prompt service of all meals and service to the company / client’s standards. Restock and replenish stocks and consumables as required during service periods, pre-empt customer needs and achieve optimum customer service delivery.
• The Executive Head Chef must ensure that all production, storage and service areas and equipment are maintained in a hygienic and clean condition, demonstrating a thorough understanding of food safety and health and safety legislation on a daily basis. Practices are to be monitored and reviewed frequently to ensure standards are set and maintained effectively.
• Ensure that the preparation of all food for sale/service is to prepare within exemplary standards of hygiene and food safety, ensuring that all members of subordinate members of staff adhere to these procedures on health, safety, and hygiene to at all times.
• Keep the Front of house informed of any food running out and pre-empt any delays in customer waiting.
• To assist in the preparation of planning menus, rotas, placing of orders.
• Ensure that the kitchen operates in line with current health & safety regulations.
• To attend meetings and training courses as required.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensure attendance to all staff meetings as required.
• Ensure that all policies and procedural requirements of both legislation and company are adhered to promote a professional and flexible approach at all times.
• To ensure personal presentation is always of the highest standard.
• Ensure all necessary checks are carried out in the service and associated areas for food temperatures.
• Carry out all reasonable request of the management.

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

• Team working abilities, listening skills, the ability to work on own initiative, impeccable personal presentation, hygiene and behaviour to others, Food hygiene certificate preferred.
• The ability to be adaptable and be flexible, as necessary. Reliable, Honest, and able to demonstrate an open attentive approach to customer service.
• Willingness to learn new skills and take some responsibility.

Knowledge / competencies:

• Ability to demonstrate a good understanding and use of verbal English.
• Ability to demonstrate a good standard of written English and reading skills.
• Similar experience of customer and / or food preparation environment is essential.
• Hold a recognised cooking qualification such as City & Guild 706/1 & 2 or equivalent.
• Hold at least a level 3 food Hygiene qualification.

Benefits

• Wider wallet scheme (discounts at major retailers, restaurants, gyms etc).
• Free meals on duty
• Volunteers leave - up to one day per year.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoptive leave.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Recommend a friend bonus.
• Unrivalled individual training and development.
• Well established apprenticeship programme.
• Team & company social events.
• Employee assistance programme.
• Workplace pension.
• Excellent career progression within a leading independent contract caterer.

About us

Thomas Franks is a founder led, fresh food catering business with a focus on excellence and service delivered with individuality, passion and style. We are unique in every approach and our clients, and our people are paramount to our daily success.

Disclaimer

All applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have the Right to Work in the UK to be considered for this role.

An enhanced DBS, Identity & reference checks (covering the last five years) will form part of the selection process. As an organisation using the Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) Disclosure service to assess applicants' suitability for positions of trust, Thomas Franks Ltd complies fully with the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes to treat all applicants for positions fairly. We are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and undertake not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure based on conviction or other information revealed. However, for any post in a school please be aware that any application is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such any criminal conviction, caution or bind-over must be declared.

Diversity and Inclusion at Thomas Franks

We actively encourage applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds and continue to develop a culture of growth and inclusion and would like to invite applications from groups who are currently under-represented, because we believe greater diversity leads to exceptional results and provides a better working life.

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