At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a passionate team in creating innovative and nutritious meals for students and staff.
- Company: Join Chartwells Independents, the UK's top provider of catering services to independent schools.
- Benefits: Enjoy perks like discounts on travel, groceries, cinema tickets, and wellness classes.
- Why this job: Make a name for yourself in a prestigious environment while nurturing your culinary creativity.
- Qualifications: Bring excellent culinary skills, leadership experience, and a passion for food to the table.
- Other info: Flexible work-life balance in a dynamic, supportive atmosphere with growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:
- Contributory pension scheme
- Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
- Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
- Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
- Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
- Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
- Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
- Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
- You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families
What you’ll be doing:
Chartwells Independents is the leading provider of catering and support services to Independent Schools in the UK. We provide innovative catering, hospitality and food service by creating imaginative menus delivered with an exceptional service. We know as a company that great food comes from great ingredients. Our Chefs use seasonal produce, adding their own individual creativity to let the food speak for itself. We pride ourselves on being able to provide a diverse range of cuisines that keep up to date with today’s trends ensuring we offer a great dining experience. We nurture and develop our teams to enrich their skills which allows them to show their passion and inspiration that as a company we are proud to encourage. You will be part of a team that supports high quality education at this school by providing outstanding food and service to the pupils and staff. You will be leading a team who share the same passion for preparing exciting fresh and nutritious food on a daily basis. This is a complex, busy and multi-facetted environment that also offers a great work life balance. We are looking for a talented, enthusiastic and experienced Executive Chef to lead our dedicated catering team, who produce outstanding food using the finest and freshest ingredients in this highly prestigious unit. This is a fantastic opportunity for an inspirational and enthusiastic Executive Head Chef to make a name for themselves within the contract catering industry. In return we offer support and development to grow within our business alongside a competitive salary.
More about the role:
- Delivery of a range of food and catering services across a number of outlets in a complex, busy and multi-facetted environment
- The Executive Chef will plan, organise and direct the preparation and cooking of food ensuring that the company's reputation for quality is enhanced with customers and clients at all times
- Taking responsibility for the food production with a hands-on approach
- Driving sales through centrally driven menu planning and promotions and preferred suppliers
- Responsible for all aspects of food safety, HSE and COSHH
- The Executive Chef will also be required to implement and maintain food monitoring procedures to facilitate budgetary control and to monitor all costs involved in the kitchen against agreed budgets.
Who you are:
- Excellent and Innovative culinary and presentation skills
- Excellent Communication and Interpersonal skills
- Energetic with a passion to do a great job
- Able to manage staff in a calm, inspirational manner
- A forward-thinker who can prevent wastage
- Demonstrates a passion for food
- Team Player
- Excellent organisation skills
- Numerate and computer literate with an understanding of financial drivers
- A clear understanding of profit margins, purchasing policy, budgeting and food costing, including control
About Us: As part of Compass you’ll help to feed people, fuel progress and forge connections in around 6,000 venues. Join us to grow your career with the industry leader, and get competitive pay, great perks and unrivalled opportunities for learning and development, at one of the UK’s biggest businesses.
Executive Chef - St Paul\'s School employer: Chartwells
Contact Detail:
Chartwells Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Executive Chef - St Paul\'s School
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest culinary trends and seasonal ingredients. This will not only enhance your menu planning but also demonstrate your commitment to innovative cooking, which is a key aspect of the Executive Chef role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with other chefs and professionals in the catering industry. Attend culinary events or workshops to build connections that could provide insights into the role and potentially lead to recommendations.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills by discussing past experiences where you successfully managed a kitchen team. Highlight your ability to inspire and motivate staff, as this is crucial for the Executive Chef position.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Chartwells Independents and their approach to catering in schools. Understanding their values and mission will help you align your application with their goals, making you a more attractive candidate.
We think you need these skills to ace Executive Chef - St Paul\'s School
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your culinary skills and experience relevant to the Executive Chef role. Emphasise your leadership abilities, innovative menu planning, and any experience in a similar environment.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for food and your vision for the role. Mention specific achievements in your previous positions that demonstrate your ability to lead a team and enhance food quality.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your application, focus on your experience with food safety, budgeting, and cost control. Provide examples of how you've successfully managed kitchen operations and driven sales through creative menu planning.
Showcase Your Personality: Let your personality shine through in your application. The company values energetic and passionate individuals, so share your enthusiasm for cooking and leading a team in your written communication.
How to prepare for a job interview at Chartwells
✨Showcase Your Culinary Creativity
As an Executive Chef, your ability to create innovative and exciting menus is crucial. Prepare to discuss your previous experiences with menu planning and how you incorporate seasonal ingredients into your dishes. Bring examples of your work or even a portfolio of your best recipes.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
This role requires strong leadership abilities. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully managed a kitchen team in the past. Highlight your approach to motivating staff and maintaining a positive work environment, especially in a busy setting.
✨Understand Food Safety Regulations
Knowledge of food safety, HSE, and COSHH regulations is essential for this position. Brush up on these topics and be prepared to discuss how you ensure compliance in your kitchen. This will show your commitment to maintaining high standards.
✨Prepare for Budgeting Questions
Since the role involves monitoring costs and budgeting, expect questions about your experience with financial management in a kitchen. Be ready to explain how you've previously controlled food costs and maximised profit margins while maintaining quality.