Head Chef

Vacherin are committed to delivering deliciously different experiences, having fun, and conducting business with a social and environmental conscience. We are excited to be recruiting for a Head Chef to work at Operations Wrkplces InLondonHJ.

Location: London

Rate of pay: £40,000 per annum

Working pattern: Monday to Friday - 40 hours per week.

Key responsibilities 

• To fully understand and interpret the CH&CO brand in terms of food and food service
• To develop and plan menus that are in line with client and customer expectations at the relevant CH&CO site
• To prepare and oversee all preparation of food to the highest standard and in line with the CH&CO style
• To ensure food is seasonal, of known provenance and where possible sourced locally
• To produce food in a timely fashion to ensure smooth service to the customers
• To ensure that all appropriate ingredients are available for the menus being prepared and where necessary identify shortages and instigate action to source ingredients
• Raise all supplier quality issues with the Procurement Department at CH&CO
• To communicate with the relevant parties’ requirements for planned menus and order necessary ingredients
• To coordinate stock ordering and stocktaking for the entire operation.

• Plan menus and prepare food in order to minimise wastage
• Control costs through efficient purchasing and use of existing stock whilst ensuring that standards and style is maintained.
• Ensure with Exec Chef, where appropriate, that budgetary targets are delivered on site through a thorough understanding of GP, GP%, selling price, cost price, margin, mark up and calculation of menu costs through recipes.
• Responsible for ensuring weekly and monthly stock takes
• To administer unit controls and keep records using the appropriate systems

Managing / Developing a Team
• Depending on site structure either overall responsibility for managing the kitchen team ensuring that they are all are aware of CH&CO standards and carry out their jobs in line with those standards or in partnership with the Exec Chef
• Responsible for leading the kitchen team in producing high quality seasonal food in a timely fashion.
• Conduct daily briefings before service ensuring all Chefs understand the day’s menus and are aware of their responsibilities for the day
• Provide feedback and coaching on performance
• To provide any necessary on-job training whereby increasing the team’s understanding and knowledge of produce.
• To carry out performance appraisals as and when directed by the company.
• To manage poor performance in line with the CH&CO process, where relevant reporting performance issues and actions to Exec Chef / site General Manager
• To induct new staff into their position.
• To monitor the attendance of the kitchen brigade

Health & Safety
• To understand and comply with CH&CO and statutory health, hygiene and safety, quality standards including COSHH and HACCP and to ensure that all tasks are carried out in accordance these standards by all members of the kitchen team
• To ensure that the kitchen team have completed up to date COSSH and Food Hygiene training.
• To ensure equipment and food temperature readings are taken and recorded on a daily basis
• To ensure all food is labelled and dated in fridges and freezers
• Wear the correct uniform and safety shoes as directed and maintain uniform items appropriately.
• Report any equipment and/or building fabric faults and any hygiene, health and safety hazard to the General Manager.

What's in it for you?

Working with Vacherin 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
• Private medical eligibility
• 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 people awards
• Long service awards
• Access to some great high street discount vouchers
• Cycle to work scheme

Vacherin officially formed part of CH&CO Catering Group Ltd in 2021.

Partnerships, Innovation, Integrity, Quality, Fun