VacancyTitle: Cafe Chef

Full Time - 35 Hours per week (Tuesday to Saturday)

Poplar HARCA is an award-winning housing and regeneration organisation with a national reputation for innovative urban and social regeneration.

The Almari is an exciting new Café nestled in the heart of the vibrant New Aberfeldy Village located in East London. As a pivotal part of the Aberfeldy Village, our café takes pride in being at the centre of a thriving development that encompasses a community centre, a pharmacy, a convenience store, and a GP surgery directly linked to the Café. The Almari is committed to providing a diverse selection of indo-fusion baked goods, food and drink options, with a primary focus on delivering high-quality food and exceptional customer service.

The Chef should be a wonderful cook who loves the art and business of cooking for a commercial café kitchen. They will support the set up and day to day management of the café leading on daily food preparation. Key responsibilities include:

• Taking the lead on food preparation, ensuring the highest standards of quality and service for our valued customers.
• Developing, enhancing and delivering the menu, crafting nutritious and wholesome dishes.
• Collaborating with local suppliers to align the café’s offerings with the diverse needs of the local stakeholders.
• Assisting in designing a menu featuring seasonal dishes that prioritise health, affordability, and quality.

Closing Date: Friday 28th August 2026 (5:00pm)

The Company

Poplar HARCA is an award-winning housing and regeneration community association based in East London. We own and manage over 10,000 homes and invest around £4m each year in community regeneration.
We’re all about creating opportunities for people in Poplar and Bow. From building new homes, to bringing people together through community events and upskilling residents through training and development opportunities.
We’re looking for people to match our passion and help us make a difference. If you’re ready to collaborate, use your skills, and help transform our corner of east London, we want to hear from you.

The Benefits

• Leave
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays from day one, with an extra three days off between Christmas and New Year. Additional leave is awarded after two and five years of service.
• Health Care
• Access to a health cash plan. This covers medical, dental, optical, and wellbeing expenses, with optional coverage for your family.
• Pension
• Access to a defined contribution pension scheme with generous employer contribution rates.
• Flexible benefits
• Options to buy or sell annual leave and enjoy flexible working arrangements. Access to season ticket and cycle to work schemes.
• Development
• Learning, training, and career development opportunities to support your growth.
• Wellness
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme from day one, where you can attend up to 8 therapy sessions.

Life at Poplar HARCA

We believe in the power of coming together. Throughout the year we host a range of exciting events to connect colleagues, encourage collaboration and inspire new ideas.

Our events include:

• Staff conferences & away days
• Lunch & Learns to gain insights into different teams and projects
• Fun evening and lunch time events for staff
• Volunteering opportunities
• Wellbeing activities to support your health and happiness

As you can see, there’s something for everyone! Whether it’s learning something new, celebrating achievements, or simply some enjoying well-deserved fun with your colleagues, our events help create a positive and connected workplace.

Poplar Housing and Regeneration Community Association Limited. A Charity and Registered Society 7726. Registered Provider L4170