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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Create innovative menus and lead culinary teams to deliver exceptional food experiences.
- Company: Join Gather & Gather, where food brings people together in inspiring environments.
- Benefits: Enjoy personal development, health support, and a great work-life balance.
- Why this job: Be part of an award-winning team that values creativity and fresh food trends.
- Qualifications: Strong culinary skills and experience in leading kitchen teams required.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional growth and exciting projects.
At Gather & Gather, great food in the workplace isn’t simply about fuel. It’s about increasing productivity and improving performance; it’s about happy motivated people and inspiring environments. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do – we live to bring food and people together.
We are brave, bold and curious adventurers in food and drink. Never shy of being different, always challenging the conventional.
Our passionate team of chefs, baristas, servers, nutritionists and much more, love nothing more than creating memorable moments that enrich the everyday. Come and join our award winning teams – we are currently recruiting for a Senior Development Chef to join our team at London.
Location: WC1H 9LT – Zones 1-2 in London with ad-hoc national required
Salary: £50,000 – £55,000 per annum plus travel
Working Pattern: Monday – Friday, 40 hours per week
Key Responsibilities:
- Menu and recipe development: Design and create innovative and commercially smart menus and recipes, often using seasonal and sustainable ingredients, while analyzing target audiences and market trends.
- Quality and standards: Ensure all food meets high-quality standards and complies with food policies, legislation, and health and safety regulations.
- Team leadership: Coach, mentor, and lead culinary teams, conduct training sessions, and ensure consistency in standards and delivery across different sites.
- Client and stakeholder engagement: Work closely with clients to understand their vision and deliver food that reflects their needs. Engage with internal departments and stakeholders as needed.
- Commercial management: Manage budgets, control costs, and contribute to sales and business growth by developing appealing and profitable food offers.
- Operational support: Support new offer deployments, mobilizations, and pilot initiatives, and act as a lead chef for offer refreshes and on-site projects.
Required skills and experience
- Culinary expertise: Strong culinary background, excellent cooking skills, and a passion for food, presentation, and creating high-quality dishes.
- Commercial acumen: Demonstrated ability to understand and manage budgets, control costs, and develop commercially viable food concepts.
- Leadership and coaching: Experience in leading, coaching, and developing a kitchen team.
- Client-facing skills: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively with clients, stakeholders, and internal teams.
- Innovation: A creative and innovative approach to food, with a strong awareness of food trends.
- Compliance: A strong understanding of food safety, hygiene, and allergen compliance.
- Experience: Previous experience in a development, executive, or senior culinary role within contract catering or a related field.
Our Ideal Candidate:
- B&I contract catering experience
- Restaurant experience
- Passionate about fresh food and latest food trends
- Comfortable to assist with sales presentations
- Creative and innovative thinker
What\’s in it for you?
Working with Gather & Gather has its perks! People are at the heart of everything we do, so we\’ve developed a range of benefits to keep you happy.
- Personal Development and Training opportunities
- Life assurance scheme
- Pension scheme
- Holiday allowance
- Access to Healthcare Support App which includes Annual health check, Digital GP, Mental Health Consultations, Nutritional Consultations, Second Medical Opinion
- Eye care
- A great wellbeing strategy – including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, salary finance
- Family friendly support
- Regular social events and communication with our leaders
- A holiday purchase scheme
- Volunteering days
- Professional subscriptions
- Recognition schemes and peopleawards
- Long service awards
- Access to some great high street discount vouchers
Contact Detail:
Gather + Gather Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Development Chef
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the food industry. Attend events, join culinary groups, and don’t be shy to reach out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your culinary creativity! When you get the chance to meet potential employers, bring along a portfolio of your best dishes or even a sample menu. Let your passion for food shine through – it’s all about making a memorable impression!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s values and recent projects. Gather & Gather loves innovation and creativity, so think about how you can contribute to their mission of bringing food and people together. Tailor your answers to reflect that!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our award-winning team. So, go ahead and take that step!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Development Chef
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food: When you're writing your application, let your love for food shine through! Share your culinary journey and what inspires you to create innovative dishes. We want to see that spark of creativity and passion that aligns with our adventurous spirit.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to reflect the key responsibilities and skills mentioned in the job description. Highlight your experience in menu development and team leadership, as these are crucial for the Senior Development Chef role. We appreciate when candidates take the time to connect their background to what we do!
Be Clear and Concise: While we love a good story, keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where necessary to make it easy for us to read through your qualifications and experiences. Remember, we’re looking for someone who can communicate effectively, so show us you can do that right from the start!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about Gather & Gather and what we stand for!
How to prepare for a job interview at Gather + Gather
✨Know Your Ingredients
Before the interview, brush up on your culinary knowledge, especially around seasonal and sustainable ingredients. Be ready to discuss how you can incorporate these into innovative menus that align with Gather & Gather's vision.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led and developed kitchen teams in the past. Highlight specific instances where your coaching made a difference, as this role requires strong leadership and mentoring abilities.
✨Understand the Client's Needs
Research Gather & Gather’s client base and think about how you can tailor food offerings to meet their unique needs. Be prepared to discuss how you would engage with clients to ensure their vision is realised through your culinary creations.
✨Be Ready to Innovate
Gather & Gather values creativity, so come armed with ideas for new dishes or concepts that reflect current food trends. Show them your passion for innovation and how you can challenge the conventional to create memorable dining experiences.