Oriental Chef

dnata; Greater London; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free meals on site

Free on-site parking

Dental and optical allowance

Refer a Friend bonus

Gym discounts

Cycle to Work Scheme

Apprenticeship programme

Pension and life cover

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

dnata Catering UK at Heathrow airport is seeking an Oriental Chef to lead a designated kitchen station in our flight catering operation. You will prepare, cook and present high-quality Oriental dishes to meet strict airline standards and schedules.

You will manage station activity, oversee junior staff, uphold HACCP and hygiene, and collaborate with the Sous Chef to ensure timely production and dispatch of meals.

Qualifications

• Oriental / Eastern cooking experience.
• Culinary training or equivalent experience in large-scale catering.
• Experience in a kitchen section (grill/sauté/pastry) in a busy production.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP and airline hygiene regulations.
• Excellent organisational and leadership abilities.
• Ability to work under pressure while maintaining quality.
• Effective communication and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and cook menu items following approved recipes and portion control guidelines.
• Manage and oversee all activities within the assigned kitchen station.
• Maintain hygiene, sanitation, and food safety per HACCP and airline policies.
• Prepare mise en place with precision for timely production and dispatch.
• Monitor stock levels, report shortages, and rotate stock as needed.
• Ensure accurate batch labeling and packaging per regulations.
• Collaborate with the Sous Chef and other kitchen staff to maintain cleanliness and workflow.
• Train and support junior staff within the station.
• Participate in safety audits and update compliance records.

Skills

Oriental cooking

Leadership

Teamwork

Food safety knowledge

Education

Culinary training or equivalent

Job description

Description

dnata Catering UK are actively seeking an Oriental Chef to join our already successful and vibrant team at Heathrow airport. As an Oriental Chef you will play a pivotal role in ensuring that our catering and goods arrive with our airline customers on time in line with various scheduling requirements.

About the role

The Oriental Speciality Chef is responsible for managing a designated kitchen station within the flight catering operation. This role involves preparing, cooking, and presenting high-quality Oriental/Eastern dishes according to standardised recipes and client specifications. The Oriental Speciality Chef ensures that all food production within their section meets stringent hygiene, safety, and airline quality standards. This is a fast-paced kitchen environment with physical requirements that may include prolonged standing and use of kitchen equipment, with reasonable adjustments where appropriate.

Key Responsibilities

What you ll be doing

• Prepare and cook menu items following approved recipes, specifications and portion control guidelines to maintain consistency and quality
• Manage and oversee all activities within the assigned kitchen station, ensuring smooth and efficient operation
• Maintain exceptional standards of hygiene, sanitation, and food safety by adhering to airline and company policies, including HACCP procedures
• Prepare mise en place with precision, ensuring all components are ready for timely production and dispatch
• Monitor stock levels for the station, report shortages, assist with stock rotation, and ensure all ingredients meet quality expectations
• Ensure accurate batch labeling and packaging in compliance with airline catering regulations
• Collaborate closely with the Sous Chef and other kitchen staff to maintain overall kitchen cleanliness, organization, and workflow efficiency
• Train and support junior staff such as Demi Chef de Partie and Commis Chefs within the station
• Participate actively in safety audits, updating records and compliance documentation as necessary

Please note your duties will include but are not limited to the above.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

What we're looking for

• Oriental / Eastern cooking experience
• Professional culinary training or equivalent relevant experience in a large-scale catering, food production, hospitality, or airline catering environment
• Experience working in a specific kitchen section, such as grill, sauté, pastry, or a similar area, within a busy production environment
• Strong knowledge of food safety standards, including HACCP and airline hygiene regulations
• Excellent organisational and leadership abilities to manage a station and junior team members
• Ability to perform under pressure while maintaining high standards of food quality and presentation
• Effective communication and teamwork skills

Benefits

• Free breakfast, lunch and dinner on site, including refreshments
• Free on-site parking
• £60 towards both, dental and optical cover through our Simply Health Cash Plan
• £150 if you Refer a Friend
• Discounted gym membership at over 2000 gyms nationwide
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Opportunity to enhance your learning through our inhouse apprenticeship programme
• Pension scheme and life cover
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) which offers counselling and advice on a wide variety of issues, 24 hours a day, seven days a week