Senior Development Chef

Job Introduction

AiP have a fantastic opportunity for a Development Chef to join our talented team supporting the schools we have across England.

You will be super passionate about food, innovation and confident in current food trends and global cuisines.  

You will play a lead role in developing and nurturing talent within our Chef teams and ensuring that we continually drive excellent food standards and our Food Strategy.

AiP joined the Sodexo family in 2018, food and the dining experience at school is incredibly important with lunch times providing an important break in a busy day for students. By joining forces Sodexo and AiP combine their resources and expertise to deliver innovative food concepts which help improve health and learning outcomes for students across the UK 

The role will require travel across our site in England.

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

Role Responsibility

• Support the Schools & University segment to deliver agreed food strategy. 
• Deliver to school standards on food policies and legislation and to act as subject matter expert ensuring adherence to these standards at all times.
• Support co-design, development and deployment of food offers.
• Co-develop and deliver agreed training programmes to ensure standards are met and guidance is followed
• Engage with all stakeholders, customers and clients
• Managers to deliver to expected standards.
• Continuous development of innovative food presentations
• Responsible in supporting local teams - new offer deployment & mobilisations through leadership and planned team meetings.
• Act as lead chef within the Schools region on offer refresh against agreed plan to measurable outcomes.
• Act as guide to relief chef teams to ensure consistency of message, standards and onsite delivery.
• Actively support onsite teams on agreed projects, pilot initiatives and added value projects with pan segment benefits.
• Mentor to drive engagement with Chefs teams - create a recognised successful award-winning Schools  team.
• Deliver agreed professional family initiatives – focus on sustainability.
• Take active role as a lead chef with the Schools segment within all agreed projects to support the building of the Sodexo S&U Chef Academy.
• Expert support to lead on key events throughout the year – Special and VIP events (summer balls etc), conferences.
  • Working with external consultant chefs, professional bodies, industry experts on key initiatives.

The Ideal Candidate

• Multi-site experience at Executive Chef level – various sector experience is an advantage
• A passionate, energetic individual who loves cooking and loves delivering seasonal, tasty, on trend food
• Proven and extensive knowledge and experience of the premium restaurant sector and / or contract catering.
• UK experience and market understanding is a must
• Multi concept / multi cuisine experience and an in depth knowledge of food
• Excellent financial aptitude
• Knowledge of recipe management system (ROL, Drive, Saffron) or similar systems
• Proven track record in creating and deploying successful food initiatives
• Ambassador for food safety and health and safety
• Occasional flexible to travel within UK  - roles may require some geographical preference and home working also
• A good understanding of Allergens and Special Food diets is advantageous
• A leader of people - someone who is keen to develop talent!

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