View Vacancy - Cook

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

The British Embassy Beirut has a vacancy for a Cook, job grade Administrative Assistant (AA) for a fixed term contract of 12 months.

The successful candidate will plan and provide meals for the Ambassador and visitors to the Residence, including official lunches, dinners and receptions. The Ambassador and Residence team host a number of events each week and so you will need to be prepared to work late most evenings, and to cater for some large events (up to 70-75 guests per reception; potentially working with outside caterers for larger events).

You will also be responsible for sourcing foods, menu design, food standards, kitchen hygiene, and full accounting for all purchases. Moreover, will work as part of a Residence team and will be expected to demonstrate British Embassy values of respect, teamwork, integrity and professionalism. 

This role will report to the Residence, Transport and Protocol Manager.

Roles and responsibilities:

  • Planning and costing menus for the Ambassador and developing menu options for events (with menus to meet the requirements of vegetarian and vegan guests and guests with allergies).
  • Purchasing kitchen related items, including all food (with an emphasis on local ingredients, value for money and within budgets).
  • Maintaining inventories and spot check duties.
  • Preparing food to a high standard and presentation, with particular emphasis on official lunches, dinners, receptions and meetings at the Residence for Ambassador and guests.
  • Providing full accounts of kitchen and food purchases (including receipt and records management).
  • Keeping the kitchens and kitchen equipment clean and to a professional standard that meets all health, food hygiene and safety requirements.
  • Carry out other reasonable tasks, including regular meetings with Ambassador, line manager and Residence team.

The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required.

Key behaviours required:

  • 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.
  • Delivering at Pace - Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
  • 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.
  • Fluent communication skills in English, both spoken and written. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely.
  • Ability to cook a wide range of high quality food to a high standard and with knowledge of creating menu design, suitable for providing excellent hospitality to the Ambassador’s guests at formal dinners and other events at the Residence in Beirut.
  • Experience of working as a cook/ chef for at least three years, together with evidence of appropriate professional training.
  • Understanding of and commitment to providing the highest standards of food hygiene at all times.
  • Experience in budgeting and accounting for purchases.
  • Customer service focus.
  • The ability to maintain performance under pressure and to work quickly and reliably with little supervision to meet challenging targets, maintaining high standards and attention to detail at all times.
  • Flexible to changing requirements, courteous and respectful of others, with a positive attitude to working with other colleagues in a collaborative, effective, mutually supportive and motivated team, committed to upholding the Embassy’s values.

In addition, we are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

  • Integrity
  • Honesty
  • Objectivity
  • Impartiality
  • Arabic language skills.
  • Previous experience in events.
  • Constructive approach to feedback and a willingness to adapt and undertake training as required in the role, including expanding the repertoire of menus and high quality dishes that can be provided, and ways of working.
Changing and Improving, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Working Together
29 January 2023
Administrative Assistant (AA)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
48
Middle East & North Africa
Lebanon
Beirut
British Embassy
1
USD
1,776
1 March 2023

Eligibility:

If you are selected for this position, we will be able to employ you as long as you:

  • Receive the appropriate level of security clearance;
  • Have (or be willing to obtain) the right to live and work in Lebanon. Candidate's residence permit and work permit, and the expense to obtain them, will be their own responsibility.

Working hours and remuneration:

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role, including a non-negotiable salary of $1,776 per month. The salary will be paid gross and you are expected to comply with your tax obligations through completion of a tax return to the local authorities.  However, for third country nationals and UKB staff spouses/ partners employed by the Embassy, as you are not liable to pay Lebanese income tax, your salary will be abated by an amount equivalent to the Lebanese tax that would otherwise be payable (if appropriate).

There are no other allowances payable as part of this package. No accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position.

This position is for a full-time employment, on a fixed-term contract basis for twelve (12) months with a possibility of extension. The successful candidate will be subject to a 90-day probationary period. The appointment is also subject to satisfactory local and UK security clearances.

Conditioned working hours are 48 hours gross per week. Normal working hours are Monday to Thursday 08:00-16:00 and Friday 08:00-14:00. Please note that flexible working hours is based on business needs and requirements, and this needs to be discussed with the line manager. This role will require regular evening, and occasional weekend work, and this will be compensated for by TOIL.

The Embassy is committed to ensuring that you are able to maintain a suitable work-life balance. Annual leave entitlement is 20 days plus 14 public holidays (on a pro rata basis).

We offer a competitive package in line with local labour law, including transport, family, educational allowances, and good level of medical insurance coverage, performance-related bonus, and opportunities for job related training and development, etc.

The jobholder will be expected be given specific training and mentoring for the role will be provided for the successful candidate. In addition to formal training requirements, the British Embassy Beirut attach great importance to personal development of all staff. This job offers many opportunities to develop a wide range of professional skills and gain experience of a broad range of programme activity.

How to apply:

Interested candidates must include 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.

Applications that do not include this information or provided in the stated format will not be considered.

Applications must be submitted before 23:55 Beirut local time on 29 January 2023.

Applications submitted after the stated deadline will not be considered.

Process:

The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take around two months.

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 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 British Embassy Beirut is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Lebanon employment 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.