View Vacancy - Residence Manager Cum Chef, Grade - AA, Bangalore

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

Main purpose of job:

The jobholder will manage every aspect of British Deputy High Commission’s official residence in Bengaluru. This job is an excellent opportunity to show and build skills in hospitality, cooking, events, leadership and management.

The residence regularly hosts a wide range of meetings and events. From high teas for small groups to high profile receptions for about 60-70 guests. We are looking for an energetic, motivated and organised individual who will not only be responsible for the day-to day operations of the residence and deliver high profile events involving guests from diverse backgrounds and fields but also have a passion and flair for food and displaying their culinary skills.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

Residence Manager – You will manage and oversee the daily functioning and maintenance of the official residence. You will work closely with other departments in the Mission to deliver events and support in maximising the use of the residence. Assisting the Corporate Services team, you will:

  • Organise and liaise with external and internal stakeholders for official events and visits held by the Deputy High Commission at the residence.
  • Work closely with the DHC’s Executive Assistant on event schedules and share it with necessary teams in advance.
  • Supervise official & social events at the residence.
  • Line manage the Housekeeper on daily basis including arranging their learning & development, maintaining their leave records and carrying out necessary end of the month HR tasks.
  • Ensure the residence is maintained to UK Health & Safety standards.
  • Work with the Estates team to ensure planned and preventive estate work is carried out at the residence.
  • Ensure the Residence asset inventory is recorded and regularly updated.
  • Continuously review operations to identify better ways of working to secure best value for money and resource savings.
  • Engage in Crisis preparedness and Diversity & Inclusion related initiatives at BDHC Bengaluru.
  • Ensure organization’s policies are followed fairly and consistently.

Chef – You will exhibit culinary talents by personally performing cooking tasks and ensuring hygiene and presentation standards are met with.

  • Routinely plan and prepare meals for the Deputy High Commissioner and his family.
  • Plan menus including pairing of wines and cook for small official dinners and lunches.
  • Ensure the kitchen pantry is stocked appropriately and maintain relevant food and alcohol inventories.
  • Be responsible for procuring supplies, identifying preferred suppliers and other required items for the residence by ensuring good value for money.
  • Submit GST invoices to Corporate Services for further processing.
  • Ensure handover of kitchen is in a presentable manner with all equipment cleaned and staged after usage.
  • Determining food presentation and creating decorative and tempting food display.
  • Maintain quality of raw food preservation, cooked food and left over food preservation for future use within its shelf life.
  • Ensure shelfs, drawers, cupboards, refrigerators, deep freezers with their respective items are aesthetically arranged after completion of meal cooking.
  • Understand and strictly adhere to organisational health & safety standards.
  • Undertake regular L&D training on kitchen hygiene and safety standards
  • Any other adhoc duties as assigned by line manager.

 Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

 You will directly line manage one staff in the residence. You will effectively manage their performance, behaviour, annual and sick leave. You will also be accountable for inventory of stocks and assets.

Language and other requirements:

 Language:   Knowledge of English, Kannada/ Tamil is essential. 

 Level of language required:  

English – Excellent written and spoken English skills essential.

Kannada/Tamil –  Excellent speaking skills required.

Knowledge of any other regional language will be an advantage.

Other requirements:

A spoken and written English test will be taken prior to interview.

Short listed candidates will be required to perform a cooking test.

Working patterns:

 If the job is suitable for flexible working patterns, please provide details:     

 The successful candidate will be expected to work a maximum of 48 hours per week with a 30 minute lunch break.  Working hours to be discussed and agreed with Line Manager and Resident family. Candidate will be required to work on shifts and flexible working hours depending on events at the Residence, in consultation with the Corporate Services Manager.

Any other information (or specific local Post requirements):

The British Deputy High Commission in Bengaluru is an office of 31 people with a focus of supporting UK trade and investment, promoting prosperity, assisting British Nationals in India and bilateral issues.  We help deliver VIP visits, both of Indians to the UK and vice versa. 

 The Corporate Services team within the BDHC Bengaluru is part of the UK government’s pan-India Corporate Services Team which ensures the smooth and efficient running of the British High Commission network in India.   We provide a range of services to all our Posts in India, as well as to representatives from around 17 UK Government departments and bodies working out of our offices.  Our services include Human Resources, Visits & Movements, Finance, IT, Transport, Mails & Diplomatic Bags, Estates and Procurement and Protocol. Our services are delivered within Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) rules and guidance, as well as value for money.

Essential on arrival:

  • A confident self-starter, methodical, organised with energy and initiative to make decisions and overcome obstacles.
  • Knowledge and experience in cooking continental dishes.
  • Knowledge and experience in baking desserts, bread, cookies etc.
  • To have an understanding of wines, food and canapé’s.
  • Initiative in overcoming obstacles, and the ability to handle multiple tasks and prioritise with minimal supervision.
  • A background in hotel management and IT support would be useful, but as important is a willingness to learn and develop.
  • Good interpersonal skills; someone who can build contacts and can negotiate effectively.
  • Excellent team working skills, with strong ability to build co-operative working relationships across our own network, and outside of the British Deputy High Commission office with a wide range of organisations.
  • An innovator who can find creative solutions and identify new more efficient ways of working.

Desirable:

 Graduate in Hotel Management with general people management skills.

 Education:

Graduate/Diploma Holder preferably in hotel management with relevant skills and at least 2 years of experience in a similar role.

Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
3 September 2023
Administrative Assistant (AA)
Fixed Term, Full-time
48
24 months
South Asia & Afghanistan
India
Bangalore
British Deputy High Commission
1
INR
INR 36,172 per month plus 12% provident fund and 6% Special Allowance
1 November 2023

For British High Commission candidates, the Country Based Staff BHC Terms & Conditions will apply.

For other than BHC Candidates, salary will be all-inclusive of INR 36,172 per month together with a 12% Provident Fund and 6% Special Allowance

Additionally, the BHC offers a great benefits package that includes annual domiciliary medical cover, plus a Group Hospitalisation Scheme with INR 500,000 floater cover for your immediate family.

No relocation or any other related costs or assistance will be provided.

Please note - BHC does not deduct tax at source and employees are required to ensure that any requirements of local income-tax law are complied with in full. Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg. some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.    

The BHC is recognised as a good employer, with a robust, fair and transparent performance management & appraisal system linked to increments and staff bonuses. We have a 5-day working week, plus annual leave, public holidays, maternity leave provision, special leave, paid sick leave provision; ample development opportunities, travel opportunities, a good organisational culture, and excellent work/life balance. 

Around half of our work forces are women.  We treat people with respect and equality and have a policy of zero tolerance for any form of discrimination, bullying, or harassment. 

This is a good opportunity to be part of a strong, diverse team, working in the biggest network that FCDO has anywhere across the globe. We are aiming to make it the best.

Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment and educational details, experience segment and the behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the application forms only for all the required details. Forms that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.

To Apply: 

Please note applications without (a) and (b) will not be considered.

A.    Complete the Online Application Form

B.    Complete the Experience, Professional Skills and Behaviour based Segments in the Online Application Form

Internal candidates applying for this position need to upload their appraisal forms for the previous 2 years (if applicable) and also inform their current line managers, else the applications will not be considered.

We will accept only online applications by 03 September 2023 (latest by 23:55 hours IST).

Please note that all the applicants will be required to strictly adhere to the security guidelines for British High Commission.

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount. 

Please note - Provident Fund Transfer in and out from EPFO is not possible as BHC PF is managed by a private PF trust governed by Indian Income Tax Act, 1961. The staff still has the option to transfer out and in from a privately held PF trust which are not governed by EPFO.

Applicants who do not have the required qualification & experience should kindly abstain from applying, as their applications will not be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, and no telephone enquires will be dealt with. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’.  If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

The appointment will be subject to Police Verification and other checks including references, medical, educational and professional.

We welcome all applications irrespective of age, race, colour, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief or creed. We are also open to applications from people who want to work flexibly.

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.