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- Tasks: Lead a team to create delicious meals for adventurous kids in a fun outdoor setting.
- Company: Join PGL, a company dedicated to enriching children's lives through outdoor education and adventure.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, paid volunteering days, and discounts at over 800 retailers.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on young lives while enjoying a balanced work-life with limited late nights.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Sous Chef/Head Chef and relevant food safety qualifications are essential.
- Other info: We value diversity and inclusivity, ensuring everyone can thrive in our supportive environment.
The predicted salary is between 28000 - 38000 £ per year.
Earn £33,748 (live off rate) per annum (our pay system is benchmarked, transparent and fair).
Full Time Permanent Contract.
Use your catering skills to fuel adventure. PGL creates extraordinary breakthroughs for children through active and life-affirming experiences in the great outdoors. By joining PGL, you will play a key role in delivering on our mission to make outdoor education more impactful, sustainable, and inclusive for future generations.
A Head Chef position like no other... What could be more important than fuelling the next generation for adventure? Our catering team are proud to serve tasty & nutritious meals, combining reassuring favourites and new cuisines to keep the adventure going. Our centralised team provides all the recipes, enabling you and your team to focus on executing our proven menus; delivering delicious as well as safe food by ensuring all health and safety, allergen safety & food safety standards are followed.
You will work limited late nights, with a Friday or Saturday evening off most weeks (especially outside of our peak season) and no working over Christmas - this could be the perfect role to progress your career in catering without sacrificing that all-important social and family time!
As Head Chef, you will be reporting to the Catering Manager, and responsible for managing a team of Chefs & Catering Assistants; organising rotas, setting clear objectives and identifying any training needs. You will also ensure your team is following procedures to maintain exemplary levels of food hygiene, and confidently managing complex dietary requirements. Alongside managing financial aspects of the catering operation, production planning, waste and stock management.
Is this you?
- Experience as a Sous Chef/Head Chef in a mid-to-large scale dining environment.
- Has experience and understanding of food mass production.
- A confident leader of people with strong organisational and decision-making skills.
- Excellent knowledge of food hygiene & handling complex dietary requirements including allergies and intolerances.
You will hold your City & Guilds 7061/2 (or equivalent) and Level 3 or above in Food Safety and Allergen Management.
Above all, it’s our core values of FUN, SAFETY, QUALITY, INCLUSIVITY, TEAMWORK and RESPECT that unite us.
A place to thrive
No matter your background, ethnicity, age, neurodivergence or anything else ... PGL is a place to be yourself, have fun, use your valuable skills for good and celebrate what makes you brilliantly unique.
Fair pay and benefits for all
On top of your 25 days annual leave (+ 8 bank holidays), you will also enjoy your birthday off, have paid volunteering days to help worthwhile causes and the option to purchase additional holiday. A career with ongoing growth, aided development, mentoring, multiple pathways and opportunities to work across different UK or French locations. 24/7 access to our Wellbeing Hub alongside our Employee Assistance Program. Sector leading family friendly policies and a contributory pension. Access to our financial wellbeing platform where you can borrow or save directly from your salary. Free/discounted PGL breaks for your family & discounts at 800+ retailers.
For any enquiries specific to this role please email katy.morgan@pgl.co.uk.
We hire the best talent and value a diverse, inclusive team; so, we are committed to ensuring our application process is accessible to everyone and are happy to provide helpful adjustments to make it easier to complete. Simply email or call us with detail around the adjustments you need. However, our top priority is the safety of the children at our centres. Therefore, all employees must undergo an Enhanced criminal records check (known as DBS or PVG), which we pay for. You will need to provide a 5-year address history and ID (such as passport/birth certificate). Convictions related to violence, drugs, or safeguarding may affect your application. Not all convictions will disqualify you, as we assess each case individually.
Head Chef - Woodbridge employer: PGL
Contact Detail:
PGL Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Chef - Woodbridge
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with PGL's mission and values. Understanding their commitment to outdoor education and inclusivity will help you align your interview responses with their core principles, showcasing that you're a great cultural fit.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare to discuss your experience in managing a team and handling complex dietary requirements. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully led a kitchen team and ensured food safety standards in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 3
Research the types of meals and cuisines that PGL typically serves. Being knowledgeable about their menu can help you demonstrate your culinary creativity and ability to execute their proven recipes effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Network with current or former employees if possible. They can provide insights into the company culture and expectations, which can be invaluable during your interview process.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Chef - Woodbridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience as a Sous Chef or Head Chef, particularly in mid-to-large scale dining environments. Emphasise your leadership skills and any specific achievements in food mass production.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that reflects your passion for outdoor education and how your catering skills can contribute to PGL's mission. Mention your understanding of food hygiene and handling complex dietary requirements, as these are crucial for the role.
Showcase Your Qualifications: Clearly list your qualifications, such as City & Guilds 7061/2 and Level 3 in Food Safety and Allergen Management. This will demonstrate your commitment to maintaining high standards in food safety and hygiene.
Highlight Your Values: In your application, align your personal values with PGL's core values of FUN, SAFETY, QUALITY, INCLUSIVITY, TEAMWORK, and RESPECT. This shows that you are not only qualified but also a good cultural fit for the team.
How to prepare for a job interview at PGL
✨Showcase Your Culinary Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience in food mass production and how you've successfully managed a kitchen team. Bring examples of menus you've created or adapted, especially those that cater to complex dietary requirements.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Qualities
As a Head Chef, you'll be leading a team. Highlight your leadership style and provide examples of how you've motivated and trained your team in previous roles. Discuss how you handle conflicts and ensure teamwork in a busy kitchen environment.
✨Emphasise Food Safety Knowledge
Make sure to talk about your qualifications in food safety and allergen management. Be ready to explain how you maintain high standards of hygiene and safety in the kitchen, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Align with Company Values
Familiarise yourself with PGL's core values of fun, safety, quality, inclusivity, teamwork, and respect. During the interview, express how these values resonate with you and how you would embody them in your role as Head Chef.
