Embercombe Kitchen Manager

Embercombe Kitchen Manager

Job Description

Hours of work

· 10am - 6pm Monday to Friday

· Exact times flexible depending on circumstances

· The Kitchen Manager will cook for all programmes other than The Journey, when an external Kitchen Manager is brought in. It will be helpful if as far as possible annual leave can be taken during Journey weeks to avoid duplication in the kitchen.

· 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Main Purpose of the Job

To take overall responsibility for the Embercombe kitchen and provide nourishing food for staff, volunteers and programme participants in a safe and caring environment.

Roles and Responsibilities

· Oversee the cooking of lunch and dinner every day

· Plan menus

· Train and supervise kitchen apprentices and volunteers

· Lead a weekly kitchen team meeting

· Check in with apprentices twice per month

· Coordinate catering for programmes

· Order food from Riverford and Essential

· Order and buy equipment and disposables

· Check equipment and liaise with Site Team as necessary

· Update and implement Embercombe’s food policy in liaison with other team members

· Give kitchen inductions and training as necessary

· Plan and if necessary work on Open Days and other events

· Liaise with team on catering for Friends Weekends

· Book cooks where necessary for weekends and other programmes and deal with feedback from cooks

· Provide a recipe for the newsletter / contribute to the kitchen blog

· Take part in kitchen apprentice interviews

· Plan and assist with implementing continued kitchen improvements

· Provide input to the Linhay development

· Contribute to the Embercombe Cook Book

· Organise training for the team and take part in training as necessary

· Comply with all Embercombe policies

· Oversee Health and Safety systems and ensure kitchen hygiene and tidiness

· Hold deep cleans

· Look after the vegetable store

· Ensure good stock control of freezers and defrosting

· Ensure leftovers are used and waste is controlled

· Ensure laundry is dealt with efficiently

Kitchen Manager Person Specification

ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE
QUALIFICATIONS / · Health and Hygiene Certificate Level 2 / · First Aid at Work qualification
· Catering qualification
EXPERIENCE / · A leading role in a commercial kitchen environment
· Responsibility for staff and / or volunteers in a kitchen environment / · Working in an organic or sustainable food business
· Managing a budget
· Organising events
· Training staff
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE / · Menu planning
· Setting up and running efficient systems
· Excellent communication skills, written and verbal
· Ability to work on own initiative and to organise and prioritise own work
· Ability to work with and motivate others
· Computer and Internet skills / · Vegan cooking
· Using ingredients grown in-house
· Using organic ingredients
· Minimising waste
OTHER / · Flexible approach to working hours

FOR INFORMATION - APPRENTICE JOB DESCRIPTIONS

Kitchen Apprentice One

Week 1 - Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 12-8pm

Week 2 – Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 7am-3pm

Thursday and Friday are garden days

Hours will be flexible according to need

Roles

· Cook with the Kitchen Manager

· Make bread and stock up bread freezer

· Help with vegetable store and liaise with garden about produce

· Liaise with garden on harvest list

· Preserve abundant produce – freeze, pickle, dry, ferment etc

· Clean and sort jars and bottles

· Keep tea area clean and stocked up

· Make and put out snacks

· Take over dinner at 6pm and serve

· Make sure kitchen is clean and clear by 8pm

· Make sure deck and dining yurt are clean and tidy

· Soak and rinse sprouts

· Help with kitchen inductions

· Set tables for schools and Natural Learning

· Development of growing and drying herbs for tea

Many of these roles will overlap with Apprentice Two

The apprentices will learn all aspects of each other’s roles but will carry overall responsibility for their own.

Kitchen Apprentice Two

Week 1 - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 7am-2pm

Week 2 – Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 12-8pm

Mondays are to work with the Education Team

Hours will be flexible according to need

Roles

· Cook with the Kitchen Manager

· Make bread and stock up bread freezer

· Liaise with Education team on school group and outreach

· Process egg shells