Head Chef

Main purpose of job:
To take day-to-day responsibility for running and maintaining the café kitchen to ensure the highest standard of quality is achieved across of all products and menu dishes, leading by example.
Motivate and manage the kitchen team and ensure consistently impeccable standards of food hygiene and health & safety are maintained at all times.
Develop, plan and deliver an exciting menu, costing all dishes with quality ingredients whilst maintaining the target gross margin.
Position reports to:
General Manager
Hours:
45 hrs per week, DAYS ONLY!
7am to 4:30pm (30 minute break)
Salary:
£16.00 p/h
Main Responsibilities
Work flexibly as part of the whole Flourish Craft Bakery Team, helping other departments whenever necessary.
Represent Flourish Craft Bakery positively and professionally at all times, acting as an ambassador for the brand and the business.
Take responsibility for the café kitchen operation, ensuring every dish is of perfect quality and produced on time.
Organise and direct the preparation, cooking, presentation and maintenance of all dishes within the kitchen.
Line manage the café kitchen team day-to-day and lead by example, maintaining high standards in hygiene across the team and ensuring the correct and safe use of equipment and utensils, providing training as required.
Ensure the team follow recipes, methods and assembly requirements at all times and to the highest quality and standard. Quality check all dishes leaving the kitchen.
Organise and coordinate the cafe kitchen team shifts, planning staff rotas and arranging cover as necessary.
Take responsibility for ensuring the whole kitchen team works to food safety and health & safety regulations and Company recycling procedures at all times, addressing immediate concerns and raising any issues with the General Manager.
Provide induction, training, coaching and support to team members, to develop individual skills, build confidence and flexibility, and encourage effective team working.
Develop creative and innovative dishes and menu ideas to deliver an exciting and varied menu, costing dishes with quality ingredients to ensure Flourish standards whilst maintaining the target gross margin. Take responsibility for preparing product and allergen specifications.
Monitor and maintain appropriate stock levels at all times, order supplies through the central ordering system as required and check and put away any deliveries, reporting any discrepancies and problems to the General Manager. Monitor and minimise portion and waste control, stock rotation and purchasing.
Undertake a monthly stock take to maximise effective utilisation of stock, improve efficiency in ordering and forecasting stock levels and maintain target profit margins.
Maintain effective communication between kitchen staff and Front of House and all other departments and managers with an open, positive and flexible attitude.
Organise and assist in the daily cleaning of the equipment used and undertake regular maintenance.
Ensure the team work efficiently, tidying up and cleaning throughout the shift and that the kitchen is cleaned down to standard at the close of business.
Undertake any other duties or responsibilities as reasonably required by Company management to meet the needs of the business.
Required Skills
Successful experience of managing the day-to-day operation of a very busy, vibrant kitchen and kitchen team
Ideally, some experience in a high-end food retail outlet
Excellent food knowledge, a passion for quality produce and an awareness of current food trends
Strong knowledge and understanding of all aspects of kitchen operations, including cost control, stock control, quality assurance and allergens
Proven experience of managing and motivating a dynamic, successful team and the ability to work collaboratively with the General Manager and Front of House team
Good knowledge and understanding of health and safety and food hygiene, with the proven ability to implement and maintain impeccable standards
Outstanding customer service skills
Flair and talent to create and present new dishes and menus
Excellent communication, planning and organisational skills, with the ability to delegate effectively
Good command of written and spoken English
Behaviours Required
Passionate and knowledgeable about quality food
A real commitment to supporting the well-being of colleagues
A genuine pride in delivering quality dishes and running an efficient kitchen to the highest standards
A proactive, hands-on, can do approach
Customer focussed and sales driven
Positive and resilient with the ability to operate calmly and efficiently under pressure
Confidence to lead by example
Available to work within operating hours - able and willing to work weekends (our busiest days)

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