Head Chef - Lead Culinary Team & In-Flight Menus

gategroup; Stretford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free onsite parking

Complimentary meals and refreshments

Free uniform

Free life insurance

Pension scheme

Job summary

Gate Gourmet, based at the Manchester Unit, is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead culinary operations, ensuring in-flight meals meet exact specifications and maintain top quality, hygiene and safety standards.

The role involves managing a kitchen team, coordinating with customers, and driving menus and production schedules while supporting both airline and non-airline contracts. A substantial track record in catering and leadership is required.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 10 years working as a qualified chef.
• A minimum of 3 years catering management experience.
• A minimum of managing a team of 6 or more persons.

Responsibilities

• Working with customer schedules, planning production schedules to ensure catering provisions are ready on time for dispatch and delivery to customers.
• Managing a team of chefs, supervisors, assembly staff.
• Supporting culinary team with customer menu development.
• Ensuring productivity, financial, operational and quality targets are met & exceeded.
• Providing clear and effective leadership to unit culinary & meal assembly teams.
• Foster a positive culture of effective team working and accountability in line with business values.
• Ensure staff are trained and aware of their roles & responsibilities, and are equipped to carry out their tasks effectively & to a high standard.
• Manage the department staff rosters, holiday planning and manpower planning.
• Coordinating staff training and development.
• Provide clear and effective communication to internal and external customers including performance reports and customer complaint information.
• Lead the unit material improvement programme in order to beat AVT deviation targets.
• Coordinate and lead regular culinary tasting & menu presentations both within the unit and with key customers alike.
• liaise with central procurement & purchasing regarding product quality & product improvement initiatives.
• Drive & lead good manufacturing standards both within the meal assembly & hot / cold kitchens.
• Play a key role within the unit senior management team.
• Ensure the production team are aware of their responsibilities in respect of, food safety health and safety and security in the workplace and have the minimum qualifications and training to work in a kitchen environment.
• Enforcement & Implementation of the GG Food Safety Standard
• Undertake & support Customer Food Safety and Product Quality audits
• Undertake regular audits of all areas within the kitchen and storage areas to ensure complete adherence to agreed policies
• Ensure cleaning rosters are operational throughout the food production areas
• Ensure that all equipment is working safely and compliant with manufacturers guidelines for operation reporting any failures.
• To ensure effective channels of communication at all levels so every member of the team is aware of the customer requirements and objectives and the part they play in the successful delivery of these requirements.
• Investigate and respond as required to customer complaints
• To be an active member of the management team and support colleagues in the achievement of their KPI’s
• To attend team meetings as required and contribute to the development and growth of the business through the sharing of good practice and your own experiences.
• To attend all necessary training programmes to develop your own potential and enable your progress in the company
• To support the Company Executive Chef in the development of the food offering

Skills

Computer Literate

Ability to write reports

Education

City and Guilds Catering Qualification in Cookery

Level 3 (NVQ) Diploma in Professional Cookery

Level 3 Award in Supervising Food Safety in Catering

Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Professional Cookery

Level 3 Diploma in Professional Patisserie and Confectionery

Level 3 (NVQ) Diploma in Hospitality Supervision and Leadership

Job description

Gate Gourmet, based at the Manchester Unit, is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead culinary operations, ensuring in-flight meals meet exact specifications and maintain top quality, hygiene and safety standards.

The role involves managing a kitchen team, coordinating with customers, and driving menus and production schedules while supporting both airline and non-airline contracts. A substantial track record in catering and leadership is required.