Head Chef - Lead Production Kitchen for Food Rescue

Hours/Days per week: 37.5 hours per week, 5 days out of 6, between Monday to Saturday. Any 8.5 hours between 07:30 and 20:00.

Requirements: The Felix Project can only employ applicants who currently have the right to work in the UK. As part of our safer recruitment policy, we do ask questions regarding unspent criminal records.

Our Vision: A UK where “No good food goes to waste”. The Felix Project and FareShare have recently merged to form the UK's largest food redistribution charity. Its vision is a UK where good food is never wasted, and nobody goes hungry. The organisation rescues high quality edible surplus food from across the food industry and gets it to over 8,000 organisations across the UK who are working to strengthen communities and improve lives. The charity manages seven depots across London, Suffolk, Merseyside and Hampshire and works with 16 network partners who operate a further 26 regional depots across the UK. Over the next year our ambition is to rescue enough food nationally to provide nearly 200 million meals, turning an environmental problem into social good with measurable impact for people, planet, and the economy.

Purpose of the Job: We are looking for the Head Chef to play a key role leading the team at Felix’s Kitchen to continue and grow on the success of the last four years of operations. Felix’s Kitchen opened in 2021 and has grown its impact and output since then, to now be a one-of-a-kind kitchen producing 4.5-5 thousand ready meals 6 days a week made entirely from surplus ingredients. No two days will ever be the same; we work with surplus ingredients meaning each dish is unique and based on the incredible seasonal surplus ingredients we have received into our Poplar Depot based next to the kitchen. We have a core team of staff who run the operation but our workforce is made up of volunteers who support all aspects of our kitchen operations. The new Head Chef will line manage the chef team of roughly 10 people and be working in our main production kitchen every day, leading the team from the front, setting the standards and organising the day's production. Whilst managing, planning and leading are the core of the role, it is a hands-on role working in the kitchen to achieve the daily production targets and cooking new recipes each day.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the Kitchen side of the operation on a day-to-day basis, setting the prep and cooking schedules for the day(s) ahead.
• Support the team from the front in delivering the day's output objectives and problem solving across the kitchen operation.
• Line Manage the Kitchen team, focused on the daily management but also working on people and team management alongside the kitchen manager.
• Work alongside the kitchen management team to ensure all H&S, Food Safety and HACCP standards are met.
• Participate in all external Health & Safety and Food Safety audits and carry out internal audits/checklists.
• Be responsible for all safety paperwork and monitoring information from the kitchen operations.
• Be accountable for the creation of unique recipe and spec sheets every day and managing the team to do so.
• Create and monitor the packing list for the packing team to produce the final meal products, ensuring accurate labelling and allergen information is given.
• Monitor and control inbound food supplies, ensuring the ingredients are used effectively and safely.
• Maintain cleanliness standards throughout the kitchen and food storage areas.
• Work alongside the kitchen manager on improving quality, quantity and consistency of Felix Meals.
• Ensure the team can provide a hot lunch for the staff at Poplar each day from our surplus ingredients.
• Support the volunteers in the kitchen, with hands-on instructions and overall experience management.
• Support the Chef Trainer in the execution of our Commis Chef Apprenticeship Programme.

Your normal duties and responsibilities will be set out in your job description. However, the charity may require you to perform other duties from time to time.

Person Specification: Felix’s Kitchen is a truly unique operation; we are looking for someone with experience cooking in a large production operation however people skills, working style and personality are the most important part of this role. Being able to adapt and plan on the go is essential, enjoying knowing that each day will require a tweak to the plan and approaching this in a positive manner is key. Being excited by the joy and the challenge of working with surplus food, adapting recipes and plans with the team. You will be working with a diverse team of staff and volunteers, being open to meeting new people every day and supporting them with your experience and knowledge. Ensuring our standards are always met but the volunteer experience is enjoyable and productive. Being passionate about food insecurity, supporting communities and surplus food is essential; we are passionate about what we do and even more importantly why we do it. Driving the standards within the team and operation whilst maintaining a positive working environment and a culture of inclusivity throughout everything you do.

Research shows some people, especially women and marginalised groups, may hesitate to apply unless they match all the criteria. However, we want to assure everyone that we encourage applications from all individuals, regardless of whether they fulfil every point in the job description. Your unique perspective matters to us – please apply with confidence.

Experience required:

• Leading a team as a head chef (or similar) in a kitchen operation.
• Line managing a team of chefs.
• Cooking in a professional production kitchen or large-scale operation.
• Level 3 or higher Food Safety Training (fresh courses will be provided).
• Knowledge on how to create and/or implement a complex HACCP Plan.
• Confidence in the ability to create recipes daily, with a base experience and knowledge to facilitate this.
• A base knowledge of a range of cuisines and cooking techniques.

Equity Diversity Inclusion & Belonging: At The Felix Project, we are committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in everything we do. We value the unique contributions of every individual and strive to create a respectful, inclusive environment free from discrimination or prejudice. Our commitment extends to all employees and volunteers, ensuring equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of background or characteristics.

Application procedure: Once you apply you will be directed to our recruitment portal. Please upload your CV and a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role and make sure that they are both uploaded before submitting your application. After you have submitted your application, you have 24 hours in which you can access your application and make edits. We will only consider applications with both CV and cover letter submitted.

Recruitment timeline: We reserve the right to close advertisements early and we might assess candidates and arrange interviews as applications come in, so please apply as soon as possible, to avoid missing out on this opportunity. Due to the anticipated large number of applicants, if you do not hear from us within four weeks of your application, we regret to inform you that your application has been unsuccessful. Consequently, we will not be able to provide feedback.

28 days annual leave per annum (+ bank holidays) plus up to 2 days additional leave for length of service. Enhanced Maternity and Paternity leave. Birthday day off. Access to discounts for a wide range of discounts on everyday spends. Training and development opportunities. Employee assistance programme including 24 Hour GP helpline. Cycle to Work Scheme. Opportunity for free meals whilst working at our depots. After work activities such as Felix’s softball team, running club and cycling club.