Head Chef – Monday to Friday 8am – 4pm with some flexibility as we are a 24/7 operation.

About COOK

COOK is a pioneering frozen food company, since 1997 we’ve been making remarkable food for your freezer, prepared by hand at our Kitchens in Kent (savoury) and Somerset (puddings) using the same ingredients and techniques you would at home. It means our food looks and tastes homemade maybe even a bit better.

We’re market leaders and (more importantly) our food tastes incredible. We have over 90 shops and a rapidly growing online business.

We’re independent (family-owned) and always will be because it allows us to do things the right way, not the fast way. We believe in business as a force for good in society and have certified as one of the UK’s first B Corporations to help us measure what matters when it comes to our impact on our environment, our people and our community.

We share 5% of our annual profits with staff.

Purpose:

Leading both Prep and Kitchen Chefs to prepare and cook high quality and attractive meals and to work within the Kitchen Leadership Team to deliver Britain’s Best Kitchen.

Your Team

As part of the Kitchen Leadership Team, contribute to the development and delivery of the plans to deliver the vision of Britain’s Best Kitchens Provide expertise and guidance within the team regarding decisions related to food quality, finished product delivery and product yield Work with the Food Team to develop new products for the Kitchen, resolve quality and manufacturing issues and improve performance

Main responsibilities:

• Role model safe behaviour
• Ensure fully trained and competent teams and deliver plans to support development of future stars
• Complete 1-1 with direct team at least monthly
• Mentor and support Ops Academy activities and attendees
• Be visible in the kitchen and role model COOK values
• Drive utilisation of team selfies
• Ensure the delivery of weekly Huddles and a regular recognitions culture
• Implement co-created practices to deliver “Best Company” results

Deliver Awesome Efficiency:

• Manage and deliver the departmental budget and ensure delivery of production to financial product standard costs
• Ensure all stock movements are correctly reported through the appropriate systems
• Lead activities to Continuously Improve performance
• Be part of the co-creation and sign off of product development, ensuring full engagement of the kitchen team in trial activity

Drive for Zero Waste

• Identify and implement plans to reduce food waste

Present a Kitchen Mindset

• Role model a Kitchen Mindset regarding general standards and food quality
• Ensure there is a robust taste panel in place, and this is “the most important meeting” with skilled and well-trained attendees
• Develop and deliver activities to “engage with food”

Ensure Safe Food

• Set the standard for food quality within the kitchen
• Develop and implement, with the Technical team, processes and controls that ensure allergen control and reduce risk of cross-contamination
• Actively participate in the kitchen HACCP team
• Manage stock through the kitchen to ensure prompt cooking and completion of batches
• Root cause food safety and quality incidents and act accordingly
• Actively participate in Food Safety team

Use Perfect Kit

*        Ensure training is provided regarding correct use of all equipment

*        Identify and source equipment required within the kitchen to meet the team’s requirements

*        Identify, with the Kitchen engineering lead, investment opportunities to improve efficiency and food quality

Other bits

Excellent Benefits including paid breaks, free food, CookieJar Smart Spending discounts on leading brands, profit share, 30% staff discount and birthdays off and much more.

Due to some lone working you will need to be over 18.

Ask us about flexible working.

Our vision for COOK has always been that we are a place where EVERYONE is welcome. We want everyone to feel like they belong at COOK. We all have different roles, different abilities and different personalities. By collaborating we can do remarkable things. Whatever your story, if you would like to grow with COOK please apply.

INDHP