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- Tasks: Lead kitchen operations across multiple sites, ensuring high food quality and hygiene standards.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at Chepstow Racecourse, part of a diverse and caring organisation.
- Benefits: Enjoy annual passes, discounted food, holiday allowance, and study assistance perks.
- Why this job: Be a key player in a thrilling culinary journey with opportunities for growth and creativity.
- Qualifications: 5+ years as a Head Chef with strong leadership and food safety knowledge.
- Other info: Exciting environment with potential for career advancement and team development.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
We are looking for a passionate and knowledgeable Head Chef to join our team at Chepstow Racecourse.
What is ARC?
- We embrace diversity
- We develop our people
- We care for our visitors
- We think about our impact
- We are proud of our sport
Work Perks of being a Head Chef:
- Annual passes to attend any of our 21 venues
- Discounted food & ARC days out
- Cycle to work scheme
- Holiday allowance increasing with length of service up to 28 days
- Company life assurance scheme
- Discretionary group annual bonus schemes to reward your hard work
- Support with study through our study assistance schemes
- And so much more…
About the role:
As a Head Chef you will organise and supervise all kitchen operations across the sites, maintaining high food quality and complying with hygiene regulations. You will control costs in general and maintain good staff relations as well as ensuring compliance with all legal and company health, safety & HACCP standards. You will be responsible for managing Chefs, Trainees, and Kitchen Porters, both full time, casual & agency. The remit will encompass all food preparation across all areas for both racedays and non-racedays, alongside a variable working week pattern to meet the needs of the business. You will manage racedays both on site or remotely, EVH functions & events.
Responsibilities:
- Liaise closely with the Head of Catering and Events & Group Head Chef regarding revenue budgets and cost targets.
- Ensure targets are met and provide explanations for any deviancies.
- Purchase within agreed parameters, ensuring the budgeted food GP is achieved & nominated spend targets met.
- Oversee and maintain the Indicater catering platform, ensuring it is utilised fully, monitoring hub spends, finance reporting, stock takes, menu planning & allergens.
- Implement and adhere to the Company Food Safety Management System across all areas within remit.
- Ensure all menu planning and specs set by head office are correctly replicated across all areas within remit.
- Coordinate stock takes as required.
- Develop and implement strategies for procuring, storing, and distributing goods or services and maintaining stock levels.
- Collect and view the weeks function sheets for racing and non-racing and plan the kitchen's time and resources.
- Order food, chemical and disposable stock for multi outlets.
- Prepare and cook foods during both non-race day and race day events.
- Supervise the cleaning down of the kitchens, by chefs & porters.
- Instruct both full time and casual chefs in the correct Health & Safety and food safety procedures.
- Manage pre-sale package opportunities across business and standardising offerings.
- Conduct kitchen build consultations, catering improvements across group, assessing capex needs.
- Ensure all EHO food safety and production requirements are met and maintained to current standards.
- Collate all HACCP documentation from all sites within remit and ensure it is correctly followed, documented & stored.
- Monitor, record & check temperature controls.
- Ensure quality control at all times throughout the production process from raw material to ready plated end product.
- Control portion size and waste factors at all times, directly influencing GP.
- Ensure a safe working environment at all times.
- Observe, maintain and drive all Health & Safety and Hygiene policies.
- Meet clients when required to assist in menu planning alongside the Catering and Events Manager.
- Maintain good communication between Kitchen and other departments.
- Arrange training for staff as appropriate in liaison with the Catering and Events Manager.
- Coordinate and assist with technical training and overall competency to management and employees regarding operational aspects of the food safety program, pest control, environmental, operational methods and personnel practices, and maintenance for food safety and hygiene/cleaning practices.
- Liaise with Local Authority Inspectors and enforcement officials as required.
- Manage the Kitchen staff rota across all sites in remit & deliver promptly to the staffing managers, ensuring set cost targets are met.
- Allocate daily workload appropriately to staff, maintaining effectiveness and operational control, including recording absence/sickness of all direct reports.
- Complete regular job and performance reviews with your team in line with company guidelines.
- Prepare for future nutrition law changes & allergen changes, ensuring all areas of business have correct allergen information displayed and updated as needed.
- Conduct jockeys nutritional audits and work alongside the BHA to ensure conformance.
The person we are looking for as a Head Chef has:
- Minimum of 5 years' experience as a Head Chef in high quality multi-site operations environment
- Strong understanding in food safety, HACCP, nutrition & allergens
- Good understanding of purchasing systems, technical packages & I.T.
- Ability to work under pressure with strong leadership to lead the kitchen team in a professional manner.
- Demonstrated understanding and achievements in managing and improving cost of goods.
- Strong background in planning & control of variable Labour to budget.
- Experience in training & team development.
- A strong eye for detail.
- Experience in banqueting, retail & fine dining.
- Full & clean UK driving licence.
- Excellent communicator.
- Passionate about the kitchen environment and about our product.
- Works well under pressure. Organised, systematic and process driven.
We are on a thrilling journey. So, to join us at our next destination, be part of a winning team and to learn more about our company and this exciting opportunity apply today.
Head Chef - Multi-Site Kitchen Leader | Growth & Perks employer: Arena Racing Company
Contact Detail:
Arena Racing Company Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Chef - Multi-Site Kitchen Leader | Growth & Perks
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the culinary world, attend industry events, and don’t be shy about asking for introductions. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a Head Chef position!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you can, create a portfolio showcasing your best dishes or even host a tasting event. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can bring to the table—literally!
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job postings to pop up. Reach out directly to restaurants or venues you admire and express your interest. A personal touch can make all the difference.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, you’ll find all the latest opportunities in one place, making your job search a breeze!
We think you need these skills to ace Head Chef - Multi-Site Kitchen Leader | Growth & Perks
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for cooking and leading a kitchen shine through. We want to see your enthusiasm for food and how it drives you to create amazing dishes and experiences.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in multi-site operations and managing teams. We’re looking for someone who can demonstrate their ability to lead and improve kitchen performance, so be specific about your achievements.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate a well-structured application that showcases your skills without unnecessary fluff.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Arena Racing Company
✨Know Your Kitchen Inside Out
Before the interview, brush up on your knowledge of kitchen operations, food safety standards, and HACCP regulations. Be ready to discuss how you’ve implemented these in past roles, as this will show your expertise and passion for maintaining high standards.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Head Chef, you'll be leading a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed kitchen staff, resolved conflicts, and trained new team members. Highlighting your leadership style and how you motivate others will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Cost Control
Understanding food costs and budgeting is crucial for this role. Come prepared with specific examples of how you've managed budgets, controlled waste, and improved profit margins in previous positions. This will demonstrate your ability to meet financial targets.
✨Engage with Menu Planning
Since menu planning is a key responsibility, think about how you approach creating menus that cater to diverse audiences. Be ready to share your ideas on seasonal ingredients, dietary requirements, and how you ensure quality across multiple sites.