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Roots to Work is a project of Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.

Job description

Purpose of the Job 

We are looking for the Head Chef to play a key role leading the team at Felix’s Kitchen to continue and grow on the success of the last four years of operations. 

Felix’s Kitchen opened in 2021 and has grown its impact and output since then, to now be a one-of-a-kind kitchen producing 4.5-5 thousand ready meals 6 days a week made entirely from surplus ingredients. 

No two days will ever be the same, we work with surplus ingredients meaning each dish is unique and based on the incredible seasonal surplus ingredients we have received into out Poplar Depot based next to the kitchen. We have a core team of staff who run the operation but our work force in made up volunteers who support all aspects of our kitchen operations. 

The new Head Chef will line manage the chef team of roughly 10 people and be working in our main production kitchen every day, leading the team from the front, setting the standards and organising the days production. 

Whilst managing, planning and leading are the core of the role it is a hands-on role working in the kitchen to achieve the daily production targets and cooking new recipes each day.   

Duties and Responsibilities 

· Lead the Kitchen side of the operation on a day-to-day basis, setting the prep and cooking schedules for the day(s) ahead 

· Support the team from the front in delivering the days output objectives and problem solving across the kitchen operation 

·Line Manage the Kitchen team, focussed on the daily management but also working on people and team management alongside the kitchen manager

· Work alongside the kitchen management team to ensure all H&S, Food Safety and HACCP standards are met 

· Participate in all external Health & Safety and Food Safety audits and carry out internal audits/checklist 

· Be responsible for all safety paperwork and monitoring information from the kitchen operations 

· Be accountable for the creation of unique recipe and spec sheets every day and managing the team to do so 

· Create and monitor the packing list for the packing team to produce the final meal products, ensuring accurate labelling and allergen information is given 

· Monitor and control inbound food supplies, ensuring the ingredients are used effectively and safely 

· Maintaining cleanliness standards throughout the kitchen and food storage areas 

· Working alongside the kitchen manager on improving quality, quantity and consistency of Felix Meals 

·  Ensure the team can provide a hot lunch for the staff at Poplar each day from our surplus ingredients 

·  Working to support the volunteers in the kitchen, with hands on instructions and overall experience management 

·  Support the Chef Trainer in the execution of our Commis Chef Apprenticeship Programme 

Application information

Thank you for thinking about applying for the role, if you think this could be a great role for you but you are concerned you may not match all the requiements we encourge you to apply. 

You can email me on nick.kerle@thefelixproject.org if you have any questions or want some more information please reach out. 

https://thefelixproject.org/work-for-us

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