About the job

Job summary

We are looking for a Head Banqueting Chef (internally known as a Sous Chef) to join our Catering and Retail Services Office at House of Lords. This is a position where you will deliver high levels of creativity, production, and service to a wide variety of outlets and on occasions will include fine dining, brasserie and staff dining restaurants.

You will lead a team and manage every aspect of service delivery for our banqueting services. You will manage a busy, pressured, and demanding environment whilst demonstrating financial controls supporting the Department’s commitment to reduce costs, improve commercial viability and to promote a proficient and responsive hospitality service maintaining the highest levels of food & customer service.

This is an opportunity to work onsite at Parliament! This is an exciting opportunity for someone that likes a fast-paced environment!

Job description

You’ll be accountable:

• To manage their outlet so that all preparation, cooking of menu items are always to the highest standards, using knowledge of food trends, paring and technical skills and ensure kitchen team works to costings and pre-determined recipes.
• To manage, plan and costs menus so provide interesting and balanced menus within the price set to achieve outlet targets, taking in consideration colour, content, balance, freshness, flavour, and food trends.
• To manage your outlet so that orders are correct, making sure there is a correct amount of stock held for the business needs, ordered from correct nominated suppliers as set out by Food & Beverage office. To liaise with other outlets ensuring that wastage is kept to a minimum.
• To have an excellent knowledge of H.A.C.C.P and C.O.S.H.H and to be able to support and manage both kitchen team and back of house service teams in all areas, making sure that all requirements of the departments food safety management are followed.
• To manage the kitchen team to ensure that all standard of dress and appearance are adhered too.
• Manage the Reporting of any faulty equipment or hazards and follow up with Department of works team so that all equipment is maintained, and all hazards are dealt with in a timely manner.
• To support the back of house manager to manage the back of house service team so that the kitchen areas, designated equipment, and utensils are always kept clean, tidy and stored to the standards required at all times.

Person specification

What we’re looking for:

• Proven and relevant experience of being accountable within the industry for the delivery of a high standard of formal dining, private dining, banqueting and cafeteria services whilst demonstrating financial controls and value for money.
• A professional, innovative, and creative chef with the skills and fortitude to tackle the range of challenges.
• Have a great knowledge of food costs and have a good understanding of food GP% and costing techniques so that profit margins are met.

It would be even better if you had or if you’re willing to learn…

• Experience working in 4/5 star dining establishments.

Benefits

Details of our employee benefits can be found at https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/lords/lordshro/employee-benefits/

What you’ll get in return:

• 30 days annual leave (increasing to 35 after one years’ service).
• Generous pension scheme.
• Discounts from well-known brands and retailers.
• Parliamentary health and wellbeing programme.
• Free meals and uniform.
• The opportunity to witness history in the making!

Things you need to know

Selection process details

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application process, please contact HLRecruitment@parliament.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.