Head Chef

West Sussex.info; Sevenoaks; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a passionate Head Chef to lead culinary operations at a prestigious racing circuit. This exciting role involves menu development, overseeing food quality, and managing a team in a fast-paced environment. The successful candidate will ensure exceptional culinary experiences for diverse events, from corporate functions to raceday hospitality. With a commitment to excellence and a strong leadership approach, you will thrive in this dynamic setting, contributing to a venue renowned for its outstanding catering. This is a unique opportunity to showcase your culinary skills and make a significant impact.

Benefits

Up to 31 days’ holiday

Training opportunities

Access to discounts at retailers

24/7 wellbeing services

Staff pass for events

Discounted food and drink

Free parking

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in a Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef role in a high-volume kitchen.
• Strong financial acumen and ability to manage budgets.

Responsibilities

• Create diverse catering menus for various events and dietary needs.
• Lead and train kitchen staff to ensure efficient operations.

Skills

Leadership

Communication Skills

Time Management

Financial Acumen

Menu Development

Food Safety and Hygiene

Education

Food Safety Certifications

Job description

Helping people find jobs in the local area since 2008

We are seeking an experienced hands – on Head Chef to lead all back-of-house catering operations at the legendary Brands Hatch motor racing circuit in Kent.

This is an exciting opportunity to oversee the food offerings at multiple outlets, including permanent restaurants and a range of suites. These are used for a variety of activities including raceday hospitality, conferences, corporate functions and Christmas parties.

The successful candidate will be passionate about food, possess strong leadership and team skills, and have a proven track record of delivering exceptional culinary experiences.

With a history spanning close to a century, Brands Hatch is a world-class venue with a reputation for outstanding catering. It’s currently home to some of Europe’s largest and most prestigious race meetings, including GT World Challenge, British Superbikes, British Touring Cars and EuroNASCAR.

Being one of the busiest sporting venues in the UK, the circuit also hosts a range of midweek activities, including trackdays, race car testing, driving experiences and corporate driving days.

Working closely with our Catering Manager, you will ensure that food quality consistently meets the very high standards for which Brands Hatch and MSV’s other race circuits are renowned.

Responsibilities of the Head Chef:

• Menu Development: Create diverse and innovative catering and hospitality menus that cater to a variety of tastes and dietary needs, in collaboration with the Catering Manager.
• Catering Oversight: Manage and oversee food offerings at all catering outlets, ensuring consistency and quality across the board.
• Event Catering: Plan and execute catering services for a wide range of events, including race day hospitality, corporate functions, and conferences, ensuring flawless delivery.
• Supplier Management: Source high-quality ingredients at competitive prices by establishing and maintaining relationships with trusted suppliers.
• Quality and Standards Maintenance: Uphold the highest standards of food quality, presentation, and hygiene across all food preparation and service.
• Staff Training and Leadership: Lead, train, and manage kitchen staff to ensure smooth and efficient operations in a fast-paced environment.
• Stock Control & Efficiency: Oversee inventory management, control stock levels, and make purchasing decisions to reduce waste and improve operational efficiency.
• Health & Safety Compliance: Ensure strict adherence to health, safety, and food regulations, maintaining a safe and compliant kitchen environment.

Requirements for the role:

• Proven Leadership: Extensive experience in a Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef role within a high-volume, fast-paced kitchen environment.
• Passion for Excellence: A deep commitment to delivering exceptional food and exceeding customer expectations.
• Strong Communication Skills: Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities to lead a team and interact with clients and suppliers effectively.
• Financial Savvy: Strong financial acumen, with the ability to manage budgets, control costs, and optimize kitchen operations.
• Time Management: Exceptional time management skills with the ability to work efficiently under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Certifications: Relevant Food Safety and Hygiene qualifications, ensuring compliance with industry standards.

In return MSV offers:

• Up to 31 days’ holiday (including Bank Holidays)
• Training opportunities
• Access to our MSV Hub, giving you access to discounts at hundreds of retailers across the UK
• Access to 24/7 wellbeing services
• A staff pass allowing access for yourself and a guest to events at all MSV circuits
• Discounted food and drink when working on site
• Free parking

The Head Chef position is being offered on a permanent 42.5-hour contract basis, with the majority of hours being worked between 6am – 4pm. Additional hours may be necessary to meet the needs of the business particularly during the race event season (March to November). Due to the location of the circuit, a full UK driving licence will be essential for the successful candidate. A basic DBS check will also be completed as part of our recruitment process.

While the Head Chef will be responsible for leading Back of House operations, there will also be a significant expectation for them to be actively involved in cooking across a range of outlets — from grab-and-go style restaurants to high-end VIP hospitality. Due to the hands on element of the position, we could consider a Sous Chef, looking to step into the role of Head Chef.

To apply for the Head Chef role at Brands Hatch, please click the link above. Kindly note that due to the high volume of applications, only those with detailed cover letters and up-to-date CVs will be considered.

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