View Vacancy - VNM (Hanoi) - 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

Main purpose of job

The British Embassy is looking for a full time chef to prepare and present high quality British/Western and Vietnamese fusion food for official events held and authorised by the Embassy.

Based at the British Ambassador’s Residence, the successful applicant will be responsible for designing and preparing menus for a wide variety of functions from small dinners to large receptions. The Embassy entertains and hosts a range of guests including government, diplomatic, business, academic and British community.

This position would suit an enthusiastic chef who has at least 2 year experience in the hospitality industry, and now looks for a challenging role at the heart of a modern organisation.

The job holder will work within a small team and reporting to the Residence Manager.

Working hours may vary according to the events diary and a flexible attitude is essential.

The job is for an initial period of 12 months and is based in Hanoi.

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

Design, prepare and present menus for official and private functions as required –  70%

Work with the Residence Manager to propose menus for different functions ranging from set lunches/dinners to buffet receptions or cocktail receptions. Mainly be responsible for preparing, cooking as well as presenting the menus. Take an active role in reviewing feedback from HMA/family and guests. Study new recipes, cooking tips and presentation styles from various sources to improve menus on a regular basis.

Manage orders and control the stock of food and supplies - 10%

Order and maintain inventory of food and supplies. Actively carry out market surveys to update prices and supplies to ensure quality and value for money. Report to the Residence Manager and get approval before making orders. 

Maintain a tidy, clean and safe kitchen in line with the FCDO Health & Safety guidance - 10%

Inspect supplies, equipment, and work areas for cleanliness, orderliness and functionality. Monitor sanitation practices and follow kitchen safety standards. Study the FCO Health & Safety guidance and apply it in practice.

Prepare and submit receipts which meet financial requirements - 5%

Collect receipts and related paperwork in order. Make sure that all receipts comply with the Embassy’s financial requirements and ethics. Support the Residence Manager in managing receipts and preparing financial reports.

Supervise casual workers and back up for Residence Manager whenever needed - 5%

Supervise and coordinate activities of all casual workers who support the cooking. Act as a backup for the Residence Manager whenever necessary

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

The British Embassy looks to support the professional development of all staff, including the Residence Chef. Previous job-holders have been given training to learn additional styles of cooking and opportunities to job-shadow with other chefs/Residences. Specific training and mentoring for the role will be provided to the successful candidate.

  • At least 2 years of professional catering experience is essential, preferably within a restaurant or hotel. 
  • Creative approach to catering and a passion for food
  • Flexible attitude, resilient under pressure with a proven track record of designing menus and delivering them to a high standard
  • Proven experience in making Western/British and Vietnamese fusion food. Experience in bakery and vegetarian cooking will be an advantage
  • Candidates must provide cooking certificates they have undertaken
  • Good knowledge of Health & Safety procedures, preferably within an international organisation
  • Strong time management skills and able to work independently or as part of a tea

Skills

  • Culinary Excellence: Ability to plan and prepare high-quality meals (British and international cuisine) to a professional standard.
  • Menu Planning: Skilled in creating diverse, seasonal menus including formal dinners, receptions, and casual family meals.
  • Presentation: Strong plating and food styling skills for formal functions and VIP guests.
  • Time Management: Ability to manage time and kitchen operations efficiently, particularly during events.
  • Adaptability: Willing to accommodate dietary restrictions, preferences, and cultural sensitivities.
  • Hygiene & Safety: Meticulous attention to food hygiene, storage, and safety standards (often following UK’s guidelines).
  • Procurement & Budgeting: Experience in sourcing quality ingredients and managing kitchen budgets.

Experiences

  • Hotel or Diplomatic Residence Experience (preferred): Understanding of formality, discretion, and service standards in such environments.
  • Catering for Events: Experience catering for official events, receptions, and high-level guests.
  • Team Collaboration: Experience working with other, Residence Manager, or security personnel in a coordinated setting.
  • Experience with Local and Imported Ingredients: Especially important when sourcing British/western ingredients.

Qualifications

  • Professional Culinary Training: Diploma or certificate from a recognized culinary school or equivalent
Changing and Improving, Communicating and Influencing, Leadership, Managing a Quality Service
22 August 2025
Administrative Assistant (AA)
Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
39.5
Asia Pacific
Vietnam
Hanoi
British Embassy
1
VND
VND 25,067,000 (gross)
monthly
6 October 2025

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

We encourage all staff to develop their capabilities, through both formal training courses and informal opportunities such as job-shadowing, coaching and on-the-job training. All staff are encouraged to share their skills and experience with colleagues, through informal training sessions or coaching/mentoring. We have an active L&D committee who organise a varied programme of learning for all staff. 

All staff are eligible for 5 Learning and Development days a year.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is committed to developing its staff. There will be opportunities for formal training alongside collaborating with a wide range of colleagues delivering on-the-job learning.

  • Working in a diplomatic mission
  • International policy skills course
  • UK Diplomatic Academy foundation learning
  • Regional and London-based formal learning opportunities

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment and security checks. Staff who are locally recruited by the British Embassy are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law.

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. Visa sponsorship may be possible for non-Vietnamese nationals if meet local requirements.  

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.

Disabled and ethnic minority applicants will be invited to interviews if meeting the minimum requirement of the job.

Working patterns:

Full time - 39.5 hours per week with one hour lunch. Mon-Thursday 08:30–16:45, Friday 08:30–15:00. The Embassy has a smarter working policy and is committed to offering flexible working patterns balanced with the operational requirements of the role. In crisis/emergency situations you may need to work as required to support the Embassy response, sometimes on a shift pattern working which may result in unsociable hours and/or weekend working.

The Embassy is committed to supporting flexible working wherever possible. For security reasons, routine working outside of the office is not possible.

The FCDO also operates an agile workforce. To facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require.

Please ensure that your application is authentically written based on your own experiences. If AI tools are used, their usage must only be limited to specific tasks such as ensuring formatting consistency and keyword relevance. The core content, personal narratives, and responses to behaviour and skill-based questions must genuinely reflect your professional journey, experiences, and achievements. We place great importance on originality and individual effort throughout the application process. Any form of plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification.

All applications must be received before 23:55 (Local Vietnam Time) on the day of the deadline indicated above.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.
 
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.
 
Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.
Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. 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.
To ensure a successful application it is important that you explain how you demonstrate these behaviours, including through your experience. You are strongly advised to read the Success Profiles Civil Service Behaviours Framework, which provides detailed guidance on how the behaviours are defined.
 
Applicants are encouraged to use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format to prepare specific examples of when they have demonstrated these behaviours in their application. Using the STAR format to provide evidence of your skills and experience in your application and at interview helps to give a structure. You briefly describe the situation in which you showed the behaviour, and then explain your task in addressing the situation, what action you took and the result of this.
 
For inclusivity and diversity, please remove the following personal information when uploading your CV: name, address, email address, age, date of birth, gender and nationality.
 
The start date mentioned in the job 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.
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.