EXECUTIVE CHEF
THE SCHOOL
Fettes College is a leading HMC co educational boarding and day school close to the heart of Edinburgh. It has a strong tradition of academic, sporting and cultural excellence underpinned by outstanding pastoral care. Fettes opened its doors in 1870 and became fully co educational in 1980: it is now an independent school of some 770 students. There are ~590 students in the Senior School (13 18 years) and ~190 students in the Preparatory School (7 13 years). The academic staff in the College consists of the Head and ~90 members of the Common Room. Our Prep School shares the same site and consists of a further ~30 teaching staff.
The school stands on a magnificent site of 100 acres, but still within walking distance of Edinburgh’s city centre. The historic main building holds the Chapel, Library, the English, Classics and History Departments as well as the Medical Centre and two boarding houses. A large purpose built teaching block (the Spens Building) houses Art, Modern Languages, Mathematics, Economics, Geography, and Music. The Theatre, Science Laboratories and Dining Hall are adjacent. The Preparatory School and seven further boarding houses (including Craigleith, a purpose built U6th House) are also on the campus. Our sports facilities (including extensive playing fields, two all weather pitches and a private Health Club) are excellent.
As well as our teaching staff we employ over 220 Operational Staff across many departments, including Estates, Security, Housekeeping, Finance, Admissions and Marketing with a pervading sense of community amongst staff, students and parents alike.
THE AIMS OF THE COLLEGE
Fettes College will ensure that our students:
• Feel valued and respected as individuals
• Receive the highest possible quality of education, engaging them in rigorous and relevant opportunities in a dynamic curriculum that creates lifelong learners
• Feel safe, have a sense of personal worth, are thoughtful and considerate of the needs of others, while possessing a willingness to take on responsibility
• Are encouraged to stretch and challenge themselves
• Develop a sense of self confidence, integrity, emotional resilience, loyalty, good manners, leadership skills and teamwork
• Value a sense of community
• Are surrounded by inspirational caring staff
• Feel represented and are provided with equal opportunities regardless of gender, identity, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity or religion.
THE ROLE
Reporting to the Catering Manager, the Executive Chef is responsible for the daily food delivery within Fettes College Dining Hall and for high end function catering at events held on campus.
The primary role of Catering Services at Fettes is to ensure that quality nutritious food is always served from the College’s kitchen. Specifically, the requirements are for three meals per day throughout term time and during the Summer Language School ‘ term ’, and one meal per day for primarily non teaching staff at other times, subject to the needs of the department to close for training, cleaning and holidays.
It is the College’s mission to support the pupils and staff in selecting food which is nutritious, healthy and varied. To that end, the kitchen brigade endeavours to design, prepare, cook and serve a selection of diverse menus.
The Executive Chef will be expected to be flexible in working hours and able to work additional hours as required.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
• Ensure the continuity of all daily services at a consistently high standard across all College catering;
• Responsible to the Catering Manager, you will assist in the day to day duty management, development and control of the Catering facilities and staff;
• Devise, develop, prepare and deliver a three week menu cycle. In performing this duty, you will be extremely competent in your cooking ability, well organised, precise, with a keen eye for detail and a flair with ingredients;
• Strive to continually demonstrate a passion for food and an understanding of the nutritional needs of children living away from home;
• Apply a sound knowledge of current food trends and be proactive in delivering a varied, nutritional and health conscious menus, occasionally themed, for the pupils and staff, within budget constraints;
• Deliver a varied menu to the special dietary needs of boarding students such as gluten free, lactose intolerant, vegan, wheat free and other food based allergies;
• supporting Westwoods with supplying a range of grab & go products
• Provide guidance to front of house staff on service and portion control, ensuring that all food is safe and served at the appropriate temperature;
• Responsible for all Food Hygiene related processes and procedures, and ensure we are fully compliant in this area to at all times;
• Ensure all Health & Safety regulations are strictly adhered to at all times;
• Manage effectively and provide clear direction to the kitchen brigade;
• Responsible for the kitchen rotas and subsequently ensuring that all business is suitably covered, including ensuring that a senior Chef is on duty on all shifts;
• Responsible for ensuring the kitchen food and labour costs are delivered within budget;
• Ensure the monthly stock takes are delivered in an accurate and timely manner;
• Responsible for the kitchen consumable orders online;
• Responsible for staff training within the kitchen, continually striving for more efficient working practices and a better working environment. This includes completing annual appraisals for the kitchen team;
• Responsible for the delivery of innovative, seasonal and on trend hospitality menus.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
1. NVQ Levels 1, 2, 3 or equivalent qualification;
2. A passion for delivering excellent customer care at all times;
3. Experience in developing and training a kitchen brigade to a high standard;
4. Have a genuine passion for working in the catering service sector;
5. Have a strong background in a similarly high volume / high quality establishment and have excellent time keeping and time management skills;
6. Be a competent multi tasker, who can demonstrate inspirational, inclusive and calm leadership within the kitchen;
7. Hold a current food hygiene qualification;
8. Experience of Allergen Legislation and knowledge of special diets are required;
9. Full understanding of Health & Safety legislation and requirements within a catering environment;
10. Working knowledge of maintaining HACCP within the kitchen.
Physical Demands
Physical stamina is intrinsic to this role, for example the ability to stand for long periods of time and to lift heavy boxes, to work in very cold environments for the freezers and the coolers and hot environments while cooking.
BENEFITS
The remuneration package will be competitive and will, to an extent, depend on the experience of the successful candidate. The position is a full time one with 6 weeks paid holiday and the hours of work are 5 days over 7, covering shifts, but the nature of the role will require additional hours at times.
In addition to being part of a great team you will be entitled to a range of benefits that include:
• Free parking within the campus grounds. The campus is easily accessed by car and bus; there is a bus stop located outside the campus serving several routes across the city and to rail stations.
• Membership of Westwoods gym and health club which offers a range of excellent fitness and leisure facilities including a 25m swimming pool.
• Free lunchtime meals during term time, and at other times when catering is provided, and you are on duty.
• Life insurance scheme.
• Excellent Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
• You will be opted into the Fettes College Non Teaching Staff Pension Scheme after 3 months service. This scheme is a money purchase one and full details of it and your options will be made available to you prior to your opt in date. Fettes will contribute to the scheme and your contribution will be subject to the minimum overall combined employer and employee contribution limits set by the Pensions Regulator. Fettes operate a contribution matching scheme up to 10% of base salary.
The closing date is 12 noon on Wednesday, 26th October 2022, with interviews being held within a fortnight of the closing date.
Applications including the details of 2 referees should be made via the Fettes College page on www.TES.com or by email to recruitment@fettes.com. All applicants are asked to provide, as well as a CV, a covering letter setting out how you meet the person specification and what you feel you can bring to this role. The Catering Manager, Mr James Wood, is available to have an informal conversation with any potential candidate prior to applying. If this is of interest to you, please contact recruitment@fettes.com to arrange a time to speak with the Catering Manager.
An offer of employment will be subject to two satisfactory references being obtained from your referees and a clean report being obtained on you from the Disclosure Scotland PVG Scheme in view of the contact you will have with children during your normal duties.
New staff at Fettes join a friendly and supportive team with a vibrant mixture of age and experience. We value every member of staff’s contribution to the life of the school. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.
We are keen to welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds into our staff body. If you would like a friendly conversation with an employee who identifies as an ethnic minority, please feel free to contact Sara Medel Jiménez (s.medeljimenez@fettes.com) who will be happy to share her experience of Fettes.