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- Tasks: Join our kitchen team as a Sous Chef, creating delicious meals for students and staff.
- Company: Work at a prestigious Cambridge College, known for its vibrant academic community.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, free food, employee discounts, and a company pension.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic environment, mentoring others while enhancing your culinary skills.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Sous Chef or in a similar role, with strong leadership and cooking skills.
- Other info: Flexibility to work evenings and weekends is required; embrace college traditions while innovating.
As a Sous Chef at one of the prestigious Cambridge Colleges, you will be an integral part of the kitchen team, working closely with the Head Chef to ensure the delivery of high-quality, nutritious meals for students, staff, and guests. Your role will include supervising and mentoring kitchen staff, ensuring food quality, maintaining cleanliness, and supporting the smooth running of the kitchen in this fast-paced, academic environment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Assist the Head Chef in menu planning and food preparation, ensuring that meals are balanced, seasonal, and meet the needs of the college community.
- Supervise the day-to-day operation of the kitchen, ensuring adherence to health and safety standards, food hygiene regulations, and the college's policies.
- Lead, train, and motivate kitchen staff, helping to develop their culinary skills and ensuring consistency in food quality and presentation.
- Oversee food preparation and cooking for a variety of dining experiences, including formal dinners, buffets, and casual meals.
- Manage stock control, including inventory, ordering, and reducing food waste.
- Ensure efficient operation of the kitchen during the absence of the Head Chef, including overseeing kitchen schedules and handling issues that arise.
- Maintain strong communication with other departments, such as front-of-house and catering coordinators, to ensure seamless service delivery.
- Collaborate with the Head Chef to maintain the kitchen's budget, ensuring cost-effective use of resources.
- Stay updated on culinary trends, introducing new techniques and concepts to enhance the dining experience at the College.
- Ensure the kitchen environment is always clean, organized, and compliant with health and safety regulations.
Qualifications and Experience:
- Proven experience as a Sous Chef or in a similar senior kitchen role, preferably in a large, high-volume catering environment.
- NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Professional Cookery.
- Excellent knowledge of food preparation, cooking techniques, and presentation.
- Strong leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and develop a team.
- Familiarity with Cambridge College dining traditions, and the ability to adapt to the specific needs of a college environment.
- Exceptional organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
- Solid understanding of food safety, hygiene standards, and risk management.
- Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as required by the college's dining schedule.
Desirable Attributes:
- Experience in institutional catering or university-level dining services.
- A passion for creating meals that cater to diverse dietary requirements and preferences.
- Ability to embrace the history and traditions of the College while contributing innovative ideas to the dining experience.
Application Process:
Please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role, with specific reference to your experience in a similar setting. This role offers a unique opportunity to work within one of the world's most esteemed academic institutions, contributing to the vibrant, dynamic life at a Cambridge College.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £36,000.00-£40,000.00 per year
Additional pay: Performance bonus
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
Schedule: Weekend availability
Sous Chef employer: BLW Recruitment LTD
Contact Detail:
BLW Recruitment LTD Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Sous Chef
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific dining traditions of Cambridge Colleges. Understanding their unique culinary culture will not only help you during interviews but also show your genuine interest in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former staff from similar roles within academic institutions. They can provide valuable insights into the kitchen environment and expectations, which can be a great advantage when discussing your experience.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay updated on current culinary trends and techniques. Being able to discuss recent innovations in food preparation and presentation during your interview can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to demonstrate your leadership skills through examples from your past experiences. Be ready to share how you've successfully trained and motivated kitchen staff, as this is a key aspect of the Sous Chef role.
We think you need these skills to ace Sous Chef
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience as a Sous Chef or in a similar role. Emphasise your leadership skills, knowledge of food safety, and any experience in high-volume catering environments.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, specifically address how your experience aligns with the responsibilities listed in the job description. Mention your familiarity with college dining traditions and your passion for creating diverse meals.
Showcase Your Culinary Skills: If possible, include examples of your culinary achievements or innovative ideas you've implemented in previous roles. This could be in the form of a portfolio or simply detailed descriptions in your application.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, carefully proofread your CV and cover letter for any spelling or grammatical errors. A polished application reflects your attention to detail, which is crucial in a kitchen environment.
How to prepare for a job interview at BLW Recruitment LTD
✨Showcase Your Culinary Skills
Be prepared to discuss your previous experience in detail, especially any roles where you supervised kitchen staff or managed food preparation. Bring examples of dishes you've created that demonstrate your culinary expertise and creativity.
✨Understand the College's Dining Traditions
Research the specific dining traditions of Cambridge Colleges. Showing that you understand and respect these traditions while also being able to introduce innovative ideas will impress the interviewers.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Qualities
Highlight your leadership skills by sharing examples of how you've motivated and developed a team in past roles. Discuss your approach to training staff and ensuring consistency in food quality.
✨Emphasise Health and Safety Knowledge
Be ready to talk about your understanding of food safety and hygiene standards. Provide examples of how you've maintained compliance in previous positions, as this is crucial in a high-volume catering environment.
