CHEF VACANCY

ALL-DAY BREAKFAST CHEF

We’re currently recruiting for a Chef to work at the busy Pathfinder Cafe. Refurbished in 2021, the cafe was brought in house and is the hub of the airport. Over 90% of our customers are not pilots or passengers, they return time after time because of our great food, reasonably priced, in a stunning location. We’re popular with all age ranges.

Our core team of chefs and weekday staff have regular working patterns, and are supplemented on weekends by an additional flexible team. We’re looking for friendly, hard working individuals, who will deliver a great service to our customers, and integrate with tight-knit team who make the Pathfinder Cafe such a fantastic place to work.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The primary role of the All-Day Breakfast Chef is to ensure the provision of high-quality food served in a timely manner.  Our kitchen is incredibly busy with an average of 200 diners each day, and around 400 per day on weekends.

Duties associated with this include:

  • Bring delicious food options to our guests’ tables by working as a team with the other Chefs in our busy kitchen

  • Work every area of the kitchen making sure things are running without a hitch, orders and deliveries are coming and going, our service is smooth and efficient and our food hygiene standards are sky-high

  • Working with our Cafe Manager on ideas for specials and new techniques that make our kitchen a creative, ever-changing environment.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES 

  • Passionate about customer service and a lover of food

  • A positive can-do attitude

  • Individuals. You’re looking for a place where you can be you; no clones in suits here

  • You’re all about having a positive impact on the people you interact with, leaving them with a memorable experience

  • You’re not precious. We leave our egos at the door and help get everything done

  • You’re up for doing things differently and trying (almost) everything once

  • Great organisational & problem-solving skills with an eye for detail

  • Adept at multi-tasking and the pressures involved in cooking several dishes at once

  • Adaptable to the changing needs of the business

  • The ability to work under pressure

  • A confident communicator

  • Reliable and punctual

 Skills, Qualifications & Experience

  • Minimum of 1 years’ experience working in a fast-paced quick turnaround catering operation

  • Minimum Level 3 food & hygiene qualification

  • Knowledge of relevant legislation, including EHO documentation and legislation, food hygiene, HACCP, COSHH.

SHIFT SYSTEM & Roster

The current roster for chefs is a 4 week pattern.  During this cycle, Chefs will work 3 weekends, with 1 weekend off.  The Chefs will work 18 days in 4 weeks, an average of 4.5 days per week.  The roster provides for two days off between each block of shifts.

The shift times are as follows:

C1 /C2:    07:00-16:30

This shift opens the kitchen and starts the preparation for service at 08:00.  Towards the end of the day, the kitchen stops service at 15:30 and the final hour is used to clean down and prep for the following day.  This includes cleaning all of the kitchen, as well as cleaning of the customer restrooms once the café is shut at 16:00.

C3:          07:30-16:30

This is an additional shift on our busier days (Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun)

Service is from 08:00-15:30, and so at the end of the day we have an hour where all kitchen staff assist with the cleaning of the kitchen, and preparing for the following day.

On occasion there are evening functions in the Café, which will normally be offered to Chefs either by delaying their shift for that day, or as overtime.

See the attached Job Description for a sample roster. 

REMUNERATION

For the 2024-25 period:

  • Starting salary will be £30,600 pa for the right candidate

  • The salary is reviewed annually, the first review will be April 2025

  • Chefs will be eligible for overtime as agreed with the Café Manager at an hourly rate of £14.71 per hour plus holiday allowance of £1.78 per hour.

  • If you come in early or stay late on your shift, you’ll always be paid overtime at your contracted rate.

Benefits

Staff receive 50% off all food and non-alcoholic drinks in the cafe. Staff on shift may have free barista coffee (if they make it!)

Blackbushe Airport provides an Auto-Enrolment Pension Scheme in which the company contributes 3% of the employee’s salary, and the employee contributes 5% of their salary.

Private Health Care - On reaching 6 month’s service, all employees are enrolled in a comprehensive private health care scheme which covers most conditions on a prior conditions disregarded basis.  This is a really useful benefit should you need medical care, and will cover for almost all conditions irrespective of your medical history.

Cycle to Work Scheme

Life Assurance - All contracted employees are enrolled in a life assurance scheme which provides 3 x salary.

ANYTHING ELSE?

We can only consider applicants who are aged 18 of over.

Due to the rural location of the role, you will need your own transport.

You must also provide evidence that you are legally entitled to work in the UK.

If you feel you have the relevant skills and experience and are interested in this fantastic opportunity to join a growing Airport business, please apply now by sending an up to date and relevant CV and covering letter.

HOW TO APPLY?

Put together a brief cover letter and CV, and either submit it using the form below or email it to employment@blackbusheairport.co.uk