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- Tasks: Lead a passionate team in creating exciting, fresh meals for students and staff.
- Company: Join Chartwells, the top catering provider for education in the UK, dedicated to nutritious meals.
- Benefits: Enjoy perks like discounts on travel, groceries, cinema tickets, and wellness classes.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on students' lives while developing your culinary skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Bring your innovative culinary skills, leadership experience, and passion for food to the table.
- Other info: This role requires a DBS check and offers a great work-life balance.
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
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: Part of Compass Group UK&I, Chartwells is the leading provider of catering and support services to the education sector. For over a quarter of a century, Chartwells has been focusing on helping those in education to build strong bodies, sharp minds and lead long healthy lives. Every week, Chartwells serves millions of nutritious and delicious meals to pupils and students in primary and secondary schools, academies, independent schools, colleges, and universities across the UK. Chartwells is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all employees to share this commitment. Any offer of employment will be subject to successfully completing pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS disclosure and a Children's Barred List check. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and we ask applicants to declare all previous convictions and cautions in order to assess their suitability to work with children.
Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!
Executive Chef - Huntingdon (Hiring Immediately) employer: Placed
Contact Detail:
Placed Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Executive Chef - Huntingdon (Hiring Immediately)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest culinary trends and seasonal ingredients. Being able to discuss how you can incorporate these into the menus at Chartwells will show your passion and innovation during any discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight your leadership skills by preparing examples of how you've successfully managed a kitchen team in the past. Be ready to share specific instances where you inspired your team or improved kitchen operations.
✨Tip Number 3
Research Chartwells and their commitment to quality and nutrition in education. Understanding their mission will help you align your values with theirs, making you a more attractive candidate.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your experience with food safety regulations and budget management. Being able to demonstrate your knowledge in these areas will reassure them of your capability to maintain high standards in a busy environment.
We think you need these skills to ace Executive Chef - Huntingdon (Hiring Immediately)
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 cooking techniques, and any experience in managing a busy kitchen environment.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for food and your vision for leading a catering team. Mention specific achievements in your previous roles that demonstrate your ability to enhance food quality and customer satisfaction.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your application, focus on your experience with menu planning, food safety standards, and budget management. Provide examples of how you've successfully driven sales and improved kitchen operations in past positions.
Showcase Your Personality: Let your personality shine through in your application. The company values energetic and passionate individuals, so don't hesitate to express your enthusiasm for creating exceptional dining experiences and leading a team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Placed
✨Showcase Your Culinary Passion
As an Executive Chef, your passion for food is crucial. Be prepared to discuss your culinary journey, favourite dishes, and how you incorporate seasonal ingredients into your menus. This will demonstrate your commitment to quality and creativity.
✨Highlight Leadership Skills
Since you'll be leading a team, it's important to showcase your leadership style. Share examples of how you've inspired and managed staff in previous roles, especially in high-pressure environments. This will show that you can maintain a calm and motivational atmosphere.
✨Understand Financial Drivers
Familiarise yourself with budgeting, food costing, and profit margins. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully managed kitchen costs in the past and how you plan to drive sales through effective menu planning and promotions.
✨Demonstrate Communication Skills
Effective communication is key in a busy kitchen. Prepare to discuss how you ensure clear communication with your team and other departments. Providing examples of successful collaborations will highlight your interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team.
