Lead Chef - Sustainable, High-Volume Kitchen

THE NORTH OF ENGLAND ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY; Chester; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Permanent contract

Salary £29,850

Overtime paid

33 days annual leave

Staff family pass

Complimentary tickets

Healthcare plan

Pension scheme

Job summary

Chester Zoo is seeking a Lead Chef to join our culinary team and help deliver exceptional dining across our venues. You will support the Sous Chef and Head Chef, manage day-to-day kitchen operations and mentor a team of chefs.

Permanent, 40 hours per week, £29,850 per annum, with overtime and excellent staff benefits. Join us in delivering sustainable, high-quality food in a remarkable conservation setting.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience of chef skills in a high-volume business, including hotels, venues, restaurants, pubs and contract catering
• Able to demonstrate understanding of current restaurant and event food trends
• Excellent customer service skills
• Stock handling experience
• Minimum Level 2 Food Safety
• Good COSHH understanding and workplace application
• Good communication and coaching skills

Responsibilities

• Provide support in the day-to-day running of the kitchen. Deputise for the Sous Chef in their absence and act as the first point of contact for service recovery
• Support the Sous Chef in devising and delivering on-trend restaurant, gastro pub and event menus ahead of competition, ensuring all venues at Chester Zoo maintain its world class reputation
• Produce food for customers of our restaurants and events to the highest standards in order to maximise profit and deliver a world class experiences
• Train and mentor Chef de Parties, Line Chefs and Seasonal team members to ensure effective and efficient work practice
• Work collaboratively with the front of house team to ensure seamless delivery
• Adhere to, and ensure team members adhere to, health and hygiene, standard operating procedures and safe working practices including food safety systems and associated legislation (for example HACCP)
• Ensure correct stock levels on a day-to-day basis, placing order requests to the Sous Chef, and accepting deliveries, ensuring they are correct and rotating stock as required

Skills

High-volume cooking

Stock handling

Customer service

Leadership coaching

Food safety

Job description

Chester Zoo is seeking a Lead Chef to join our culinary team and help deliver exceptional dining across our venues. You will support the Sous Chef and Head Chef, manage day-to-day kitchen operations and mentor a team of chefs.

Permanent, 40 hours per week, £29,850 per annum, with overtime and excellent staff benefits. Join us in delivering sustainable, high-quality food in a remarkable conservation setting.