Development Chef

Job Introduction

If you are passionate about bringing innovation and excitement to menus then this is the perfect opportunity for you. A specialist, craft focused Development Chef is required to oversee the consistency and delivery of the Fresh Food from Scratch offering for our Independent Schools business around London/South and the M25 corridor (Herts, Bucks, Beds, Essex)

In this role, you will work with all chefs in ensuring that food standards across the region are of a consistently high standard of quality and presentation and meeting company standards of compliance.  You will also use your expertise to coach and mentor teams and drive new initiatives and themes

This role offers working term time only – 39 weeks per year.

Role Responsibility

• Work with Chefs and unit managers to ensure that food standards across the business area have a consistently high standard of quality and presentation and complying with all food policies.
• Improve the standard of meals using fresh quality ingredients and increase participation of pupils purchasing these meals
• Develop food offers & marketing initiatives, ensuring that we are on trend, innovative and profitable
• Assist with increasing sales & retaining/growing our business via food and innovation
• Support the mobilisation of new business
• Coach and develop chefs to ensure they are able to perform to the required capability level and can meet and maintain (at all times) company standards, compliance & policies in all areas of food health, safety and quality.
• Provide imaginative ideas to sell and present food to students
• Ensure that excellent levels of service are being delivered to the customers.
• Compliance with all Company & Client policies, site rules and statutory regulations relating to Health & Safety, safe working practices, hygiene, cleanliness, fire and COSHH.

The Ideal Candidate

• Previous experience in a highly skilled culinary role, ideally working with multiple teams across multiple locations
• Broad food industry knowledge from volume catering to fine dining/hospitality
• Industry acumen and knowledge of external catering developments & food innovations
• Strong financial understanding and demonstrable in understanding budgets
• Experienced in adhering to and driving company initiatives
• Proven ability communicating at different levels
• Experience working in a standards /compliance environment
• Relevant qualification and training
• Able to work on own initiative
• Flexible approach to working

Package Description

Working Term Time Only - 39 weeks per year

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.

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.