Head Chef

Job Introduction

Are you a passionate Head Chef with a keen interest in the latest trends and industry developments? Are you looking for a new challenge? If so – this is an excellent opportunity to enhance your career within a new, growing contract at Bader International Study Centre.

This elite university campus is located at Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex on a 600 acre estate. You’ll lead the delivery of student dining for 200 resident students from Queen’s University in Canada. As Herstmonceux Castle sees 30,000 visitors each year, you’ll also be responsible for the commercial catering operations, hospitality and events (which includes weddings and conferences), the student lounge bar and the prestigious Castle’s tea rooms.

This position will suit an ambitious foodie, with a passion for innovation, who is skilled in food delivery. We are looking for an innovative individual who is ‘hands on’ with a keen eye for detail.

Please note this role may include occasional weekend / evening work to meet business needs.

Role Responsibility

• Manage the production and delivery of quality food services which may include daily customer catering, hospitality services and events
• Effectively lead and engage brigades to deliver an outstanding service to both client and customers
• Ensure all food is prepared fresh and to a high standard as per service level agreement, Company policy and current legislation
• Liaise with the front of house team to ensure the service provided is of the highest standard
• Work with the Kitchen team in creating and developing new menus and innovative offers
• Implement and maintain the Statutory and Company standards of hygiene, health and safety and take any action as is necessary

The Ideal Candidate

• Previous experience in the food services sector relevant to role (i.e. Head Chef / Shift Leadership)
• Experience within high volume catering
• Experience of managing a team within a food services environment
• Passion for delivering great food and service
• Good financial awareness
• Excellent communication skills
• Experience of managing a team within a food services environment
• Knowledge of Food Hygiene and Health & Safety
• Hold Intermediate Food Hygiene certificate, or equivalent

Package Description

As part of our commitment to improving the quality of life for our employees, Sodexo offers a Flexible Benefits Scheme, allowing you to tailor a reward package to suit your needs but includes a technology scheme, private dental insurance, travel insurance, gym membership, Gourmet card, private medical insurance and the ability to purchase or sell annual leave. We also have a Sodexo Discount scheme, which offers employees and their friends and family the opportunity to benefit from over 1,200 discounts from top retailers both online and in-store.

About the Company

In the UK and Ireland, Sodexo employs some 35,000 employees to deliver integrated facilities management services to clients at over 2,000 locations in the corporate, healthcare, education, leisure, defence and justice sectors. With an annual turnover of over £1bn, we provide everything from catering, cleaning and reception to security, laboratory and grounds maintenance services, enabling our clients to focus on their core business.

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.

Sodexo and our clients are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults within a regulated activity. Certain roles 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.