Executive Chef

Peoplebank; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading catering firm in Edinburgh seeks a talented Executive Chef to oversee food production. Candidates should have a background in contract catering or education, with experience in high-paced kitchens. This full-time role emphasizes creativity with seasonal ingredients and requires adherence to hygiene and food safety standards. Benefits include discounts, meals on duty, enhanced parental leave, and excellent career progression opportunities.

Benefits

Wider wallet scheme

Free meals on duty

Volunteers leave

Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoptive leave

Cycle to work scheme

Recommend a friend bonus

Individual training and development

Established apprenticeship programme

Team and company social events

Employee assistance programme

Workplace pension

Career progression opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience as Executive Chef in independent schools or contract catering preferred.
• Proven record of working in a fast-paced kitchen at Head Chef level.
• Strong understanding of food safety and health regulations.

Responsibilities

• Operate and control Food Production to ensure high standards.
• Ensure freshness and sustainability in sourcing ingredients.
• Plan menus for nutritional value and customer expectations.
• Maintain hygiene and food safety standards.
• Assist in menu planning and order placements.

Skills

Team working abilities

Listening skills

Ability to work on own initiative

Impeccable personal presentation

Food hygiene certificate preferred

Adaptability and flexibility

Customer service approach

Education

Recognised cooking qualification such as City & Guild 706/1 & 2 or equivalent

Job description

Contract: Full Time , Permanent
Salary: Up to £ 42,000 per annum
Hours: 40 per week

As Scotland’s leading ethical, family-owned caterer, we take immense pride in our commitment to ‘Intrinsically Independent’ principles. Our culinary teams at Thomas Franks Scotland immerse themselves in the bounty of Scottish produce, crafting menus that not only satisfy the palate but also celebrate the distinctive flavours of this magnificent land.

We are looking for a talented Executive Chef to join our team at one of our prestigious locations in Edinburgh. You will have prior experience working in ideally a similar role in independent schools. This is a full time, 52 week contract working within one of our most perstigious locations in Scotland.

You will have previous experience of working within a fast-paced kitchen at Head Chef level (ideally within either contract catering - B&I or Independent Education).

You will be excited to work with fresh seasonal ingredients & regularly changing bespoke menus which YOU create! You will be creative and have the opportunity to showcase your skillset every day.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS (TASKS & RESPONSIBILTIES):

• To operate, monitor and control the Food Production and Service Production to ensure that the food is produced and presented to the highest possible standards, according to the stated Thomas Franks standards and all specified client requirements.
• Responsible for ensuring that the Thomas Franks Fresh Food standards are adhered to by all members of staff, making the best use of local, sustainably sourced and in-season produce at all times using the Company approved suppliers.
• Ensure that the menus are planned are devised for their nutritional value, making the best use of current food styles and customer expectations for daily service and any functions, hospitality or special events.
• Ensure the prompt service of all meals and service at all times to the company / clients standards. Restock and replenish stocks and consumables as required during service periods, pre-empt customer needs and achieve optimum customer service delivery.
• The Executive Head Chef must ensure that all production, storage and service areas and equipment are maintained in a hygienic and clean condition, demonstrating a thorough understanding of food safety and health and safety legislation on a daily basis. Practices are to be monitored and reviewed frequently to ensure standards are set and maintained effectively.
• Ensure that the preparation of all food for sale/service is to prepared within exemplary standards of hygiene and food safety, ensuring that all members of subordinate members of staff adhere to these procedures on health, safety and hygiene to at all times.
• Keep the Front of house informed of any food running out and pre-empt any delays in customer waiting.
• To assist in the preparation of planning menus, rotas, placing of orders.
• Ensure that the kitchen operates in line with current health & safety regulations.
• To attend meetings and training courses as required.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensure attendance to all staff meetings as required.
• Ensure that all policies and procedural requirements of both legislation and company are adhered to in order to promote a professional and flexible approach at all times.
• To ensure personal presentation is of the highest standard at all times.
• Ensure all necessary checks are carried out in the service and associated areas for food temperatures.
• Carry out all reasonable request of the management.

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

• Team working abilities, Listening skills, the ability to work on own initiative, impeccable personal presentation, hygiene and behaviour to others, Food hygiene certificate preferred.
• The ability to be adaptable and be flexible as necessary. Reliable, Honest and able to demonstrate an open attentive approach to customer service.
• Willingness to learn new skills and take some responsibility.

KNOWLEDGE / COMPETENCIES:

• Ability to demonstrate a good understanding and use of verbal English.
• Ability to demonstrate a good standard of written English and reading skills.
• Similar experience of customer and / or food preparation environment is essential.
• Hold a recognised cooking qualification such as City & Guild 706/1 & 2 or equivalent.

• Wider wallet scheme (discounts at major retailers, restaurants, gyms etc).
• Free meals on duty
• Volunteers leave – up to one day per year.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoptive leave.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Recommend a friend bonus.
• Unrivalled individual training and development.
• Well established apprenticeship programme.
• Team & company social events.
• Employee assistance programme.
• Workplace pension.
• Excellent career progression within a leading independent contract caterer.

About us

Thomas Franks is a founder led, fresh food catering business with a focus on excellence and service delivered with individuality, passion and style. We are unique in every approach and our clients, and our people are paramount to our daily success.

Disclaimer Scotland Schools

All applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have the Right to Work in the UK to be considered for this role.

An enhanced PVG, Identity & reference checks (covering the last five years) will form part of the selection process. As an organisation using the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Disclosure service to assess applicants' suitability for positions of trust, Thomas Franks Ltd complies fully with the PVG Code of Practice and undertakes to treat all applicants for positions fairly. We are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and undertake not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure based on conviction or other information revealed. However, for any post in a school please be aware that any application is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such any criminal conviction, caution or bind-over must be declared.

Diversity and Inclusion at Thomas Franks

We actively encourage applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds and continue to develop a culture of growth and inclusion and would like to invite applications from groups who are currently under-represented, because we believe greater diversity leads to exceptional results and provides a better working life.