Head Chef

Package Description

£35,000pa - £37,000pa + great benefits 

We also offer Sodexo Discounts site promoting discounted mobile phone tariffs, savings across restaurant chains and days out, where you and your family can save money on everything from your weekly food shop to the latest cinema blockbuster and much more

Job Introduction

Independents by Sodexo have a fantastic opportunity for a Head Chef to join our talented team at Kings College Taunton.

This is a varied, fast paced opportunity; as the Head Chef, you’ll bring a hands-on approach to the site and you will oversee the timely and efficient preparation of all core feeding including special needs and diets.

This is a fantastic opportunity where you will lead the food team so that they are motivated and engaged, providing over 300 Boarding students and 200-day students with the best possible experience. We are passionate and focused on using high quality ingredients with good sustainability credentials. The Head Chef will be responsible for delivering outstanding food and service, combined with motivating leadership through first-class management of the catering team. You will also be able to show your passion and creativity by developing your own dishes and supporting your team with their own ideas.       

We offer flexi working with your working week being 5 out of 7 days. Primarily working Monday to Friday with the occasional weekend cover needed.  

At Independents by Sodexo pupils' health and wellbeing is at the root of everything we do. We deliver fresh food to be proud of: food that will sharpen the mind, energise and rejuvenate the body. Our approach is one of partnership, our heritage and inherent family values breathe through our experienced team, empowering a naturally entrepreneurial and agile approach, but always consistently.

This role is subject to Safer Recruitment checks and the successful applicant will be required to complete a DBS.

Main Responsibilities

• Manage and control the services to the agreed specification and to the agreed performance, qualitative and financial targets. 
• Manage a team to increase the Client and Sodexo’s revenue opportunities i.e. commercial opportunities, labour efficiency and generate the GOP within retail operations.  
• Supply Chain Management – ensure value for money is achieved through robust management of purchasing. 
• Recruit, induct and develop talented employees within the kitchens and, if necessary, firmly and fairly manage poor performance. 
• Identify opportunities for organic growth and new business. 
• Exceptional management of Food Hygiene, Health, Safety and Environmental Legislation using the Sodexo Safety Management System. 

The Ideal Candidate

NVQ level 2 Food Production certificate or equivalent 

• Intermediate Food Hygiene certificate
• IOSH Managing Safely
• Strong level of literacy and numeracy
• Experienced Chef who has operated in a busy, client facing environment
• Good communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to be an effective team player 
• Flexible, with the ability to work under pressure and across a range of shifts and service times

Sodexo and our clients are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults within a regulated activity. This role will require applicants to undergo screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and/ or Disclosure Scotland.

About The Company

In the UK and Ireland, Sodexo employs around 30,000 people, and partners with clients in many sectors across business and industry; schools and universities; sports and leisure; energy and resources; government and agencies; healthcare; justice and defence.

Sodexo’s connected; people-centric approach brings together a diverse range of expertise. The breadth of services it offers ranges from food and hospitality; cleaning; reception; concierge (Circles); security; property management and technical services through to data driven workplace strategy and design (Wx); employee engagement and recognition services (Sodexo Engage) and personal home services through Prestige Nursing + Care and the Good Care Group.

Vital Spaces is Sodexo’s value proposition that puts people at the heart of everything we do, bringing together services and solutions and focusing on the productivity and wellbeing of people wherever they are.

Sodexo is committed to being an inclusive employer; we welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds and identities.

We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer. We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations.

We are building on our support to the Armed Forces community through the development of specific pathways within our recruitment process to  support ex-forces personnel and reservists, those applying for jobs with us who meet the ideal candidate criteria for the role advertised are guaranteed to progress to the selection process