Group Executive Chef
2 days ago
Banbury
To develop and lead the culinary team. To develop, create, implement, and maintain the agreed high standard and consistency of all food production, service, dishes, menus & tastings across all areas of the group in an effective, time efficient, hygienic, and profitable manner, ensuring customer service standards whilst ensuring best & safe practice and adherence to all legislation. Reports to: Operations Director / Chief Executive Officer How We Work • As a Team we are all expected to work daily with the same shared core set of values., • Our Mission and Vision are what sets our standards and our beliefs., • Trust, Respect & Teamwork is embodied by One House. Culinary Talent • If you are reading this then it is expected and a given that you are a very talented chef., • You are expected to keep up to date with culinary trends and influences in order to help, • keep the business relevant., • You are able to translate trends into workable, replicable and profitable dishes and, • processes appropriate to our market., • You are inspirational. You have a huge passion for food, and are able to inspire your team,, • creating a culture of excellence., • You will be expected to create appropriate menus applicable and appropriate to various, • market sectors within a company appropriate style and to deadlines., • The GEC will contribute strategically to the growth and evolution of the business through, • culinary innovation, operational scalability, concept development and support of new, • business opportunities. Communication and IT skills • You are expected to be a strong communicator in this role., • The ability to communicate and delegate effectively up and down the chain of command, • and with clients as required is a vital part of the success of this role., • To ensure you communicate company policy & standards to all Kitchen team and ensure it, • is understood & followed at all times., • You are able to communicate effectively and appropriately at board level., • You will communicate on all company platforms in a timely and appropriate manner., • It is expected that you will have a high level and competence of IT skills., • You will be part of the development and play a crucial role in the development of “Monty”, • our in house CRM system., • It is expected that the GEC will be able to create and implement solutions and processes, • and deliver in house training as required. Training, Leadership & People Management • Strong and effective leadership & people management is required for this role., • You will lead, train, and develop your team to ensure the effective running of all areas of, • the Kitchen to facilitate all business demands to expected & agreed standards., • It is expected that you will develop and review job specs with your team and hold regular, • 1:1 performance progress meetings., • Ongoing training in all areas of food production, service and personal development is, • essential to create consistency and understanding., • The creation, updating and modification of recipe & dish specs for all team to use on all, • dishes are essential training tools to ensure consistency and quality., • External training assets and courses can be used and requested for various uses and will be, • subject to budgets., • The recruitment & development of culinary team from apprentice level upwards, is seen as, • key; nurture & grow. The GEC will develop a sustainable culinary talent pipeline through, • recruitment, succession planning, apprenticeships and internal development pathways., • The ethos and values of One House along with our Vision and Mission is what sets us apart, • as a business, these principles are how we achieve the standards we strive for. Your, • leadership and communication ensuring that the Culinary Team understand this messaging,, • adhere and work to these principles is essential to the success of your role and that of the, • company., • Your presence and influence will need to be felt by the team at live events and in the, • various group kitchens. This element of leadership is key to the role, the maintenance and, • improvement of standards and business efficiencies. Commercial Awareness • It is essential that the Kitchen is run as a business and in a business-like manner. Many, • elements of commercial awareness will involve working closely with the Kitchen Manager,, • but all are ultimately the responsibility of the GEC., • A strong understanding of the priorities of the business element that the kitchen represents, • is essential., • The Kitchen is the engine House of our Business and the key to profitability. The GEC must, • consider the commercial elements and importance of all actions and decisions taken to, • ensure the effective running of the kitchen., • The GEC will ensure the kitchen Team will all work with 'Finance First' ( FF ) our in-house, • financial management process., • It is expected that the GEC will work effectively with the wider Team through One House to, • ensure best FF processes., • The GEC is required to ensure the Kitchen is run in a time efficient and effective manner,, • ensuring the best use of the available Kitchen Team of Talent at all times., • Forecasting flows of work, time and labour efficient production for the Kitchen Team is, • essential and a basic of the role., • Produce regular operational and financial reporting for the exec team, whilst analysing, • financial performance and implementing corrective actions, • Best purchasing practices, negotiated, implemented, and carried out to always ensure the, • best product price, for appropriate products to agreed and expected standards., • Effective management of appropriate stock levels at all times., • Working in conjunction with the kitchen manager, it is expected that as part of the process, • of creating spec sheets that dishes are fully costed., • Gross profit margins need to be established, implemented and maintained. Kitchen Hygiene & Health & Safety at Work • All food handling practises, and food hygiene falls under the ultimate responsibility of the, • GEC. This is to be applicable to all/any kitchens at any venue/event, and any team, • members within any of our kitchens at any time, within The Kitchen & Co Group., • Kitchen hygiene is of the highest importance to our business and that of our strategic, • partners and must be always prioritised., • A 5 Star kitchen rating is the only acceptable rating for The Kitchen and Co in any, • outlet/establishment that we may operate. This 5 Star rating standard must always be, • achieved and maintained., • The GEC holds responsibility for ensuring full compliance with allergen legislation,, • Natasha’s Law requirements, allergen communication procedures and ingredient, • traceability across all operations., • It is the GEC’s responsibility to ensure the fabric of the Kitchen, and any equipment is to, • standard and appropriate maintenance is carried out as required., • All food handling legislation must be adhered to and all appropriate and upto date, • paperwork and documentation in place at all times., • Ensure all Kitchen Team are appropriately trained to Government legislation standards in, • safe food handling, and that we hold the appropriate up to date supporting documentation, • for all Kitchen team members., • The GEC must ensure that all Kitchen Team members have appropriate safe handling, • training for all/any equipment that may require it and all supporting documentation is in, • place and always up to date., • The GEC must ensure that any health & safety at work legislation applicable to the Kitchen, • and kitchen team is adhered to, training provided as appropriate, and all necessary, • documentation is in place and kept up to date., • It is expected that you would utilise the roles of Head Chef and Senior Sous to help, • facilitate all of the above., • The GEC must be able to liaise effectively with any/all food standards officials. Kitchen Logistics Team and Multi-Site Governance • It is assumed that the Kitchen Logistics team recruitment, development, scheduling and, • operational efficiencies falls under the overall responsibility of the GEC., • Conduct regular kitchen audits across all sites, • Implement standard operating procedures, • Ensure operational consistency group-wide Wider Responsibilities and Involvement • As a senior member of our Team it is expected that the GEC would be involved from time to, • time as required in various promotional and marketing activities. This may include, • presentations, demonstrations, filming, client tastings etc., • It is expected that the GEC will liaise directly from time to time as required with our, • Strategic Partners and clients. Ways of Working Autonomy and Ownership • Operates with a high level of independence., • Takes full ownership of culinary and operational outcomes., • Proactively identifies and solves problems. Leadership Presence • Visible, approachable and decisive., • Leads by example in all environments., • Inspires confidence across teams and stakeholders. Communication • Clear, consistent and structured communication across all levels., • Ensures alignment between strategy, kitchen operations and execution. Core Operational Systems (not limited to) • Microsoft Office – Outlook, Teams, Excel, • Adobe Acrobat, • Internal and External CRM Systems, • Simple AI literacy – ChatGPT, Grok, • Menu and recipe management systems Person Specification • Extensive senior-level culinary and hospitality leadership experience is essential., • Multi-site hospitality or events experience is highly desirable., • A highly talented and passionate culinary professional with exceptional operational, • standards., • Professional, discreet and able to handle confidential information appropriately., • Calm under pressure with strong crisis management and decision-making ability., • A natural leader and exceptional communicator who inspires and develops teams., • Commercially astute with strong financial awareness and operational understanding., • Forward-thinking, solutions-driven and continuously looking to improve standards and, • efficiencies., • Hands-on, resilient and able to thrive in a fast-paced hospitality environment., • A strong collaborator who works effectively across departments and with strategic, • partners, clients and suppliers., • Confident representing the business externally through client interaction, tastings, events, • and industry engagement., • Passionate about food, hospitality and delivering exceptional guest experiences.