Head Chef The Lake District Calvert Trust

Visit Lake District; Twin Lakes (MD); On-site; GBP 30,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks a Head Chef to lead its catering operations, ensuring high standards of food quality and safety. This role involves menu planning, managing a team of chefs, and working closely with various departments to deliver exceptional service to guests. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills, a commitment to food safety, and the ability to cater to diverse dietary needs. Join a passionate team dedicated to providing memorable experiences in a beautiful outdoor setting, where your culinary expertise will truly shine.

Benefits

Occupational Sick Pay Scheme

Use of facilities for staff and family

Discount on Stables lessons for family

Subsidised staff meals

Free parking

Professional Development

33 Days paid leave

5% employer pension contribution

Cycle To Work Scheme

No late-night shifts

Qualifications

• Experience managing a catering kitchen with a focus on food safety.
• Ability to lead a team and manage budgets effectively.
• Understanding of working with people with disabilities.

Responsibilities

• Manage catering services, ensuring quality and safety standards.
• Plan menus and accommodate special dietary requirements.
• Supervise kitchen staff and maintain equipment.

Skills

Team Leadership

Communication Skills

Budget Management

Food Safety Compliance

Catering for Special Dietary Needs

Education

Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate

Tools

Catering Equipment

IT Skills

Job description

Head Chef

Salary scale
£30,837 to £32,926 per annum (£15.81 to £16.88 / hour), subject to qualifications and experience

Location
Calvert Lakes, Little Crosthwaite, Keswick. CA12 4QD

Working Hours
Full time – 40 hours per week, including shift and weekend working

Early shift starting from 6.30am & late shift finishing from 7.30pm

WHAT WE DO:

The Lake District Calvert Trust is a charity that challenges disability through outdoor adventure. We provide fun-filled outdoor adventure for all, with our adapted equipment and specialist knowledge, offering an experience like no other to people with disabilities, their friends and family. We support around 4,000 disabled visitors each year to stay at Calvert Lakes, our 60-bed residential centre.

We are a small team who are passionate about people achieving their potential using the challenge of adventurous activities in the countryside in order them to develop, change perception and make positive and lasting changes to their lives.

ABOUT THE ROLE:
Our Head Chef is a key member of the Operations Department and accountable to the Operations Manager, the successful applicant will have a high level of flexibility, motivation, enthusiasm and dedication, with excellent interpersonal skills.

The Head Chef will take the lead role in managing the catering provision at Calvert Lakes. In this position they will be supervising up to four chefs and responsible for completing paperwork, staff rota’s, recruiting, mentoring and training.

They will have the experience and skills needed to run all aspects of our catering kitchen, ensuring statutory compliance and the high standards of food preparation, customer service and hygiene are maintained.

Key Responsibilities
This job description is not intended to be a full list of duties but to give a guide to the key areas of work.

1. To provide management of the catering service at Calvert Lakes and ensure that the highest standards quality and safety are maintained, and wastage controlled.

2. Menu planning and managing of the production of food, to ensure the highest possible quality of food is served, with attention to the provision of special dietary requirements, healthy living, and allergies.

3. Ensuring the catering operation conforms to all standards of food safety and hygiene, including liaising directly with the EHO and maintaining a high food hygiene rating.

4. Working with the Operations Manager, ensure that all relevant H&S / best practise guidance is reviewed, and appropriate risk management processes put in place. This will include risk assessments, operating procedures and/or safe systems of work are produced and followed across all areas of Calvert Lakes catering operations.

5. Ensure suitable and sufficient records of required checks (H&S and food safety) are produced and recorded in a timely manner.

6. Working with the Property Manager and Business Support to ensure all kitchen equipment is maintained and servicing is kept up to date.

7. Manage the ordering of food provisions and the necessary cleaning chemicals/equipment within budget.

8. Line management of all catering staff at Calvert Lakes. Including staff inductions, appraisals, 1:1s, ongoing training and mentoring of staff to ensure excellent in customer care and staff motivation.

9. Production of staff rotas to ensure a high-quality catering provision is maintained for all centre guests. Rotas must be in line with worktime directive legislation. The catering management team (including the Head Chef) are expected to cover shifts as required to maintain a service provision.

10. Comply with the Trust’s Health and Safety policies and procedures and ensure that relevant legislation is followed.

11. Complete relevant qualifications and training required to comply with health and safety legislation or best practice.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience
• Level 2 food hygiene certificate or above

• Experience of working in a customer service role

• Experience managing a catering kitchen

• Experience of line managing and training staff

• An understanding or experience of working with people with disabilities

• Experience of catering for a variety of special dietary needs

Key Skills and Competencies
• An ability to work as part of a team

• Competence in leading a team

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

• Experience Managing Budgets/ excellent financial acumen

• IT skills

• Ability to plan, balance and manage competing priorities

• Commitment to accuracy and attention to detail

Benefits:

· Occupational Sick Pay Scheme

· Use of facilities for staff and family

· Discount on Stables lessons for family

· Subsidised staff meals

· EAP System

· Free parking

· Accommodation/service occupancy where available

· Location/Views/Walks

· Incentivised pay scales

· Professional Development

· 33 Days paid leave

· 5% employer pension contribution

· DBS paid for by employer

· Cycle To Work Scheme

· Maternity & Paternity Pay: Statutory Maternity & Paternity Pay

· Parental leave: Up to18 weeks unpaid leave for each child up to their 18th birthday (maximum of 4 weeks per year).

· Emergency Dependant & Compassionate leave

· No late-night shifts