Sous Chef
We have an exciting opportunity to work as part of a growing team, working in a truly unique environment at the UK’s number 1 zoo! As part of the Food and Beverage team, the Sous Chef will be responsible for the daily management of the Chef team working on Islands, our Asian inspired restaurant Manado’s.
All of our kitchens are led by our sustainable values. We work hard to source high quality, local and seasonal produce, are making progress towards zero waste kitchens by 2030. We also collaborate with our suppliers to ensure only ethically sourced palm oil enters our kitchens.
Our venues, all held within our 128 acre site of stunning gardens, will jointly operate a turnover of £12.5 million. As a not for profit, everything we make is ploughed into conservation both here in the UK and around the world. Your role has a huge part to play in delivering our mission.
The Role
As part of our team of Chefs, you’ll prepare and cook food working predominantly in Manado restaurant.
Our Sous Chefs take a lead role supporting our Executive Head Chef and Head Chef. They run the daily back of house operation in Manado, training and mentoring our brigade of Chefs. They help to devise and develop on-trend menu’s with a twist. Working closely with the front of house team, they ensure we deliver a world-class experience for all customers.
You will:
* Run the day-to-day operation of the fast paced and exciting kitchens you are responsible for.
* Devise and deliver on-trend restaurant menus ahead of competition, ensuring all venues at Chester Zoo maintains its world class reputation as a world class visitor attraction.
* Produce food for customers of Chester Zoo’s restaurants and events to the highest standards in order to maximise profit and deliver a world class experience.
* Train and mentor Lead Chefs and Chef de Parties, ensuring an effective and efficient work practice.
* Work collaboratively with the front of house team to ensure seamless delivery and world class customer service.
* Take the lead in ensuring health and hygiene policies and associated legislation (HACCP, etc) are completed and ensure team members adhere to, policies, standard operating procedures and safe working practices including food safety systems.
* Ensure the team are trained to correctly manage stock on a day-to-day basis, are able to place orders in a timely fashion, accept deliveries, ensuring they are correct and rotate stock as required.
* Complete weekly staff rotas for your team in a timely fashion.
* Complete monthly stocktakes for your restaurant, achieving monthly set GP% targets, ensuring team members are adhering to food specs created by the Head Chef.
What makes Chester Zoo a great place to work?
As the UK’s biggest and best zoo, we have ambitious goals, exciting plans, and there’s always lots going on here. We’re an inclusive and diverse organisation, made up of over 600 permanent and 500 temporary team members, and we know how important it is to invest in our colleagues to help boost their career development. We have ambitious goals, and we want you to be with us for the long term on our exciting journey.
Our futures depend on the sustainable work we do today, and our team of Chefs are conscious that every little effort counts. We work alongside the Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil to ensure all palm oil used is certified sustainable, and during 2018 our food and beverage department removed over 2 million pieces of plastic from our operation.
The Package
You’ll be working sociable hours typically during zoo opening hours which are generally between 10am 6pm, although evening or early morning work will be required for events such as weddings or corporate functions. Contract hours are 40 per week, 5 days out of 7 on a rota basis including weekends and bank holidays and overtime will be paid for agreed additional hours.
* Permanent contract
* £33,500 per annum based on 40 hours per week
* 33 days annual leave
* Staff/ family pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off plus multiple complimentary tickets for your friends and family
* Access to healthcare plan
* Employer contributory pension scheme
Our Requirements
* Demonstrable chef experience in a high-volume business, preferably gained within a leading British Gastro Pub
* An excellent understanding of current gastro and event food & trends
* Experience of leading a chef team
* An excellent communicator and with a passion for coaching and developing a team
* Excellent customer service and teamwork skills
* Although not essential, the following would be desirable:
* A Food Safety Level 3 qualification is preferable
More About Us
We’re not just an amazing, award-winning visitor attraction that’s home to 30,000 incredible animals inside 128 acres of stunning gardens. We’re not just the UK’s most popular zoo. We’re a major wildlife charity that’s committed to the recovery of endangered species, globally. And, as the world faces an extinction crisis, we’re making a hugely significant contribution to conservation at a time when it’s needed most. We are Chester Zoo and we prevent extinction.
Please be aware we reserve the right to close our vacancies earlier than the listed date if we have received a high level of applications. We would recommend that if you do wish to be considered that you complete the application as promptly as possible as shortlisting and interviews may be taking place whilst the advert is live.