View Vacancy - BMA - Residence Chef (AA)

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Residence and Support Staff)
Cook/Chef

The British Embassy Bahrain has a vacancy for Residence Chef, job grade Administrative Assistant (AA). 

Join one of the most important private households in Bahrain as a Residence Chef. We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated chef to help deliver exceptional cuisine in a refined, high-standard environment. From casual family meals to fine dining parties, you’ll create fresh, innovative options while being culturally sensitive and staying ahead of food trends. 

Duties and responsibilities: 

Menu Planning & Coordination

  • Collaborate with the Residence Manager to plan menus for official events.
  • Accommodate specific dietary needs, including allergies, religious restrictions, and personal preferences.
  • Coordinate food preparation in line with the Residence diary to ensure timely service for all events
  • Menus to include produce from the Residence’s vegetable garden with excess processed for future use
  • Formulate ideas for food items suitable as gifts or for representational use. 

Food Preparation & Presentation

  • Prepare and present food to a consistently high standard, suitable for VIP-level guests
  • Offer a wide variety of cuisines to cater to diverse tastes.
  • Experiment with new recipes and suggest innovative dishes and ingredients.
  • Ensure all dishes are within budget and wastage is kept to a minimum. 

Kitchen Management

  • Ensure kitchen systems and processes comply with all health and safety regulations (HACCP trained preferred).
  • Maintain kitchen cleanliness and hygiene, including proper chemical storage (COSHH).
  • Be responsible for the organisation of the kitchen, including cooking utensils and equipment, reporting issues to Events & Residence Manager.
  • Conduct regular stock-takes and manage equipment, cleaning and food inventories efficiently.
  • Create and maintain a recipe database
  • Develop system for wastage reporting to ensure that all ingredients are fresh and safe to use, and that all wastage is kept to a minimum.
  • Shop for food and domestic supplies, selecting high-quality items at the best prices.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers to ensure value for money. 

Event & Residence Support

  • Coordinate with Residence stewards to ensure timely and appropriate food service.
  • Provide support to the Residence Manager and stewards for daily operations and events.
  • Assist with general administration and event preparation as needed.
  • Serve drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) behind the bar during events.
  • Work with external caterers where necessary to ensure they meet Residence standards.

Professionalism & Flexibility

  • Demonstrate a calm, meticulous, and professional approach to private household service.
  • Be flexible and responsive to last-minute changes and requests.
  • Respect and support colleagues, fostering a positive team environment.
  • Manage workload effectively, using quieter periods to plan and restock where appropriate.

Wider Embassy contribution:

  • The Job Holder, as with all members of staff, will contribute to the life of the Embassy community beyond their formal job description. This could include broader roles such as fire warden or joining a People Committee. 
  • The Job Holder will form part of crisis preparedness, exercising and any operational response. 
  • Respond flexibly and actively to evolving priorities and needs. 

The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required, carrying out additional duties according to business need.  

Key behaviours required: 

  • Making Effective Decisions: Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.
  • Managing a Quality Service: Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise, and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.
  • Working Together: Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources, and support.
  • Changing and Improving: Seek out opportunities to create effective change and suggest innovative ideas for improvement. Review ways of working, including seeking and providing feedback.

 


Qualifications, skills and experience: 

  • Proven experience in high-level catering, including VIP and formal events.
  • HACCP certification or equivalent food hygiene training.
  • Strong organizational and time management skills.
  • Creativity and passion for culinary excellence.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Changing and Improving, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Working Together
30 June 2025
Administrative Assistant (AA)
Full-time, Permanent
35
Middle East & North Africa
Bahrain
Manama/Bahrain
British Embassy
1
BHD
801.150
monthly
1 September 2025

Working hours and remuneration: 

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role. The salary for this role is at BHD 801.150 per month based on 35 hours per week.

If you are exempt from paying local social insurance in Bahrain, your salary will be abated by an amount equivalent to the social insurance that would otherwise be payable. Further information on this may be provided at interview if necessary.

Accommodation is available on site, if required. No relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

The package includes private medical insurance and learning and development (L&D) opportunities. Specific training and mentoring for the role will be provided, and your Line Manager will help you develop a personalised L&D plan and will share opportunities, resources and guidance to ensure you continue your learning. 

This role is for a full-time employment on a permanent contract. The successful candidate will be subject to a three-month probationary period. The appointment is subject to satisfactory local and UK security clearances. 

Normal working hours at the Embassy are from Sunday to Thursday. Specific hours to be confirmed at a later time. The jobholder will be required to be flexible in their approach to hours worked as these are subject to adjustment and may at times be fluid dependant on the needs at the Residence, which can include early mornings and late evenings and during events / VIP dinners. 

The Embassy operates a flexible working policy, which allows staff to work more flexibly as long as the core hours are worked subject to line manager agreement. This will be considered based on operational requirements and agreement with the line manager, and in line with FCDO and Embassy policies.

How to apply: 

Interested candidates must include in their online application form the following:

1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV);

2) a covering letter/ motivation essay stating how you meet the requirements of the role; and

3) Examples in the relevant sections of the online application form of how you meet the key behaviours and skills required. 

Please refrain from the use of AI based tools when completing your application, this is to ensure a fair competition for all candidates and helps maintain the integrity process. If the use of AI is identified, your application may be rejected. 

Applications that do not include this information will not be considered. 

Applications must be submitted before 23:55 Bahrain local time on 30 June 2025. 

Applications submitted after the stated deadline will not be considered. 

The Embassy can provide visa sponsorship to the successful candidate (if needed). 

 

Process: 

Due to the large number of applications we receive, only those shortlisted for the next step in the recruitment process will be contacted. 

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful at interview may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of six (6) months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate. 

The start date mentioned in the advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security-vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances and reference checks. 

The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around 2-3 months. The security clearance process includes checks available in country and in the UK, dependant on the security level required for the role and the candidates profile and UK footprint. You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign, and we are working hard to minimise any disruption. 

 

 The FCDO operates an agile approach to delivery. To facilitate an agile workforce, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require. The British Embassy Bahrain is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local labour law.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

This opportunity is closed to applications.