View Vacancy - Chef (NLD21.117)

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.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Residence and Support Staff)
Cook/Chef

Due to COVID-19, you may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign. We are working hard to minimise any disruption.

The British Embassy in The Hague, part of a worldwide network of 230 Diplomatic Posts, representing British Political, Economic and Consular interests overseas is now looking for a Chef to be part of the our Ambassador residence staff.

Main purpose of job:

To be the Chef for the British Ambassador’s Residence in The Hague. You will work closely with the UK Ambassador and the small Residence team preparing meals for all types of hospitality events at the Residence, large and small, from  formal dinners to  breakfasts, lunches and British high teas for  a wide clientele including visiting VIPs.  The incumbent will be asked to plan, prepare and present high quality meals promoting  modern, fresh, contemporary UK food including, on occasion, from around the regions of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.  Further information and recipes etc will be available and you will decide menus with the Ambassador.  In addition the chef will have responsibility for budgeting, running a kitchen, shopping and sourcing kitchen supplies and  equipment. 

This role presents  an exciting opportunity to be part of the hospitality of the UK Embassy and the beautiful Residence in The Hague. There is currently no chef at the UK residence in The Hague and so you will have a ‘blank page’ on which to develop your own skills and use your expertise to deliver high quality hospitality.

The Ambassador will welcome your ideas and creative input to make guests feel valued and at home when they visit.


The recruitment process will include asking those shortlisted to cook for the Ambassador and guests.  

Roles and responsibilities:

Work independently making decisions linked to  shopping and cooking, kitchen equipment procurement, maintaining food stocks, menu planning, reconciling expenditure accurately and on time;

Maintain accurate detailed records of expenditure and consumption for every event, for month-end accounting purposes;

Ensure delivery or high quality business meals and refreshments for stakeholders for various business contacts at the HMA Residence;

Cook food for multiple events and varying numbers of guests, to a high standard, quality and presentation, with emphasis on a modern British style cuisine;

Work  independently and unsupervised to create appetising and healthy menus while ensuring value for money;

Arrange smooth service delivery, via effective communication and problem solving, managing any extra kitchen staff as required, and liaising with the Residence Management to maintain harmony between kitchen personnel and front house team;

Demonstrate good interpersonal and communication skills;

Liaise with the Residence Manager on kitchen maintenance issues, oversee works performed by technical staff, external contractors, the Residence staff, if requested by the Residence Manager;

Adhere to health and safety guidance and food safety standards to provide a compliant, hygienic and safe working environment;

.


Full professional proficiency in English * (C1 Level);

Must have at least 5 years of experience cooking for  high calibre customers;

Must have attended a  technical cooking school or completed specialist cooking courses;

Commercial /professional experience working as a chef or cook for high quality events;

Capability to flex between smallscale lunches etc through to large events such as receptions;

Baking skills;

Ability to work independently and manage budget allocation.

Experience creating dishes or a menu from the UK, or willingness to learn;

Cooking experience in a restaurant or a diplomatic mission.


14 May 2021
Administrative Officer (AO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
36
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Netherlands
The Hague
British Embassy
1
EUR
3189.21
29 June 2021

The successful candidate will initially be offered a one year employment contract at A2 level. The base salary for this position is € 3189,21 gross per month, based on a working week of 36 hours. In addition, an 8% holiday bonus and a monthly working from home allowance are payable. Actual commuter travel expenses up to a limit or a monthly set travel  allowance  for commuter costs are payable depending on the role and how often office work is needed. The Embassy currently applies a performance based bonus pay model for local staff. 


Applicants must be legally entitled to work in The Netherlands.


The successful candidate will undergo a professional background check; Any job offer is also provisional to a successful security clearance check.

The Embassy encourages a culture of continuous learning. All employees have access to the Civil Service Learning platform which gives access to training to improve job specific skills. Employees are entitled to a minimum number of annual training days.


The British Embassy promotes and demonstrates the key values of Professionalism, Respect and Honesty.

Visa/work permit requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in The Netherlands and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country.

Additional Information (due to Covid 19):

  • You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign and we are working hard to minimise any disruption

  • Interviews will be done remotely if the existing situation determines this to be the right course of action

  • Starting date may be delayed depending on circumstances at the time and it will be agreed with the selected candidate.

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

Please be advised that the British Diplomatic Missions will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a job.

Under the terms of the UK/NL Double Taxation Convention (Article 18 1(b)(ii),  UK nationals who move to The Netherlands to take up their new role at the Embassy/Consulate and UKB spouse who start working at the Embassy with no previous record of working in the Netherlands since the arrival of the UKB partner they accompany,  will be placed on a tax abated salary if deemed to be eligible for Dutch income tax exemption on their salary. Qualifying staff will have no Dutch tax levied on their salary and will therefore be paid a lower salary abated by the amount of tax they would have had to pay if that local liability existed. A tax abated salary ensures a fair and comparable take home pay. Staff on tax abated salaries cannot claim tax benefits in The Netherlands but they are fully and comprehensively covered for social security and deemed to be resident local staff for all intents and  purposes.

*Please note for more information on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment  levels  please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your language skill is going to be assessed.

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.