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- Tasks: Lead a dynamic kitchen team, crafting fresh meals and ensuring top-notch food quality.
- Company: Join our busy Inn known for delivering exceptional dining experiences.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, flexible wage access, generous leave, and employee discounts.
- Why this job: This role offers growth opportunities in a supportive environment with a focus on creativity and teamwork.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in kitchen management, menu design, and team leadership is essential.
- Other info: Access bespoke training programs and enjoy a vibrant workplace culture.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Were looking for a Head Chef to lead the kitchen team in our busy Inn
You will be responsible for a diverse team, cooking from fresh and serving the highest standard of food. Our kitchen could be expected to deliver around one thousand meals per week including breakfast, lunch, dinner, events and room service.
Your day to day;
- You will be responsible for ensuring that ingredients are stored, prepared, cooked and presented to the highest standard and meets our guests requirements, complying with food safety guidelines
- Ensuring a clean and hygienic kitchen environment is maintained at all times. Following food safety management procedures and keeping the necessary records that meet internal and external standards
- Development of all menu items and specials, reviewing and refreshing dishes in line with business requirements and other external factors
- Use provided technology to aid menu planning, purchasing and safety procedures
- Collaborate with the Inns leadership team to ensure a safe environment for both guests and staff
- You will constantly focus on improving the performance of your team and yourself, consistently achieving targets and delivering results
Who are we looking for?
You will be able to demonstrate a keen business sense, producing menu items and directing a team in line with commercial and customer requirements delivering the highest level of quality.
As Head Chef, you will be someone with a proven track record of designing rotas that allow you to forecast and manage labour costs. You must understand the need to consider team characteristics and their collective productivity, looking to improve and deliver standards in the most efficient way possible.
You will be comfortable collaborating with other senior chefs in the group, sharing best practices in recruitment, retention and developing talented individuals.
From your experience you will be able to identify ways that business strategy, customer profile, culture and constraints influence the development of creative, profitable and competitive menus. You will be able to foresee market and business scenarios that present risks and opportunities to the business.
Someone who can set measurable, challenging goals for all team members, finding ways to improve staff knowledge and their approach, coaching and mentoring the kitchen team. Experience of delivering technical training and development content would be beneficial.
You will have a grasp of the principles of supply chain management, waste management, sustainable procurement and working practices in the kitchen. Understanding the principles of profit and loss and recognising how you can support the overall financial performance of the business through an efficient operation, building on past experience to achieve monthly and annual budgets.
In return, we are offering a rewarding role with scope for career progression along with;
- A competitive salary, negotiable dependent on experience
- Wagestream – the ability to access up to 40% of your wages as you earn them each week
- 28 days annual leave (rising to 33 days after 5 years)
- Health cash plan
- Generous employee discounts
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
- Apprenticeships available
- Life assurance
- Bespoke training programmes accessible to all
- An engaging & supportive work environment
AMRT1_UKCT
Head Chef employer: The Judges Lodging
Contact Detail:
The Judges Lodging Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Chef
✨Tip Number 1
Showcase your leadership skills by discussing specific examples of how you've successfully managed a kitchen team in the past. Highlight any experience you have in training and mentoring staff, as this is crucial for the Head Chef role.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarize yourself with the latest food safety guidelines and best practices. Being able to discuss how you ensure compliance and maintain a hygienic kitchen environment will demonstrate your commitment to quality and safety.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with menu development and how you adapt dishes based on customer feedback and market trends. This shows that you can create competitive and profitable menus that align with business goals.
✨Tip Number 4
Be ready to talk about your understanding of supply chain management and cost control. Sharing insights on how you've previously managed labor costs and waste will highlight your business acumen and operational efficiency.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Chef
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Experience: Make sure to showcase your previous experience as a Head Chef or in a similar role. Detail your responsibilities, the size of the teams you managed, and the volume of meals you prepared to demonstrate your capability in a busy kitchen environment.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Emphasize your ability to lead and develop a diverse team. Provide examples of how you've successfully coached and mentored staff, improved team performance, and created a positive work environment.
Demonstrate Business Acumen: Illustrate your understanding of menu development, cost management, and supply chain principles. Mention any experience you have with forecasting labor costs and managing budgets to show that you can contribute to the financial success of the Inn.
Focus on Food Safety and Quality: Discuss your commitment to maintaining high food safety standards and hygiene practices. Include any relevant certifications or training that support your knowledge in this area, as it is crucial for the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Judges Lodging
✨Showcase Your Culinary Expertise
Be prepared to discuss your previous experience in leading a kitchen team and highlight specific dishes or menus you have developed. Share examples of how you've maintained high standards of food quality and safety.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Talk about your approach to managing a diverse team. Provide examples of how you've successfully coached and mentored team members, and how you've handled challenges in the kitchen environment.
✨Understand Business Acumen
Illustrate your understanding of how menu design impacts profitability. Be ready to discuss how you've managed labor costs and improved team productivity while maintaining quality.
✨Emphasize Collaboration
Highlight your experience working with other senior chefs and leadership teams. Discuss how you've shared best practices and contributed to a safe and efficient kitchen environment.
