Oriental Kitchen Lead — Airline Catering

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

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.