View Vacancy - SIN - Residence Chef, A2(L)

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 High Commission’s promotion of modern British food and drink provides an exciting opportunity for the Residence Chef to showcase their kitchen, as well as their creative skills and culinary talent. In the past our Chefs have worked on the ‘Britain is GREAT’ campaign, preparing menus and food for high level events as well as routine business entertaining. We are exploring collaborations with well-known British chefs for future events. 

The Residence Chef is expected to provide a quality catering service for a large number of onsite business events hosted by the British High Commissioner to Singapore, Deputy Head of Mission and other sections.

The successful candidate will work as part of a larger residence team, which also encompasses event logistics, stewarding and housekeeping. The Residence Chef will be a key figure for promoting British and British-Asian fusion food and drink through innovative cooking, use of culinary trends and ingredients in conjunction with High Commission campaigns.

This is an excellent opportunity for an up and coming, forward-thinking Chef who would like to promote modern British food and culinary trends.

  • Lead and manage the kitchen operation for the residence and a large number of official events at the High Commission’s other representational properties. These range from (in)formal breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, to cocktail receptions, buffet parties, seminars, workshops and afternoon teas as well as special events.
  • Create innovative menus for events and entertaining, using British food and products where feasible, whilst applying culinary trends to prepare food in line with the objectives of each event or occasion and working within budget.
  • Develop a ‘house style’ of cooking which both showcases the best of British while drawing on local culinary influences.
  • Knowledge of special dietary restrictions and an ability to come up with creative alternatives.
  • Manage stock of food and kitchen/catering supplies and maintain the kitchen space and facilities, ensuring high standards of cleanliness, hygiene and health and safety.
  • Source sustainable and environmentally friendly and cruelty free produce.
  • Negotiate effectively with external vendors and contractors, to ensure value for money.
  • Build a network of contacts inside and outside the High Commission. Seek opportunities to collaborate within the food industry in Singapore, linking and working with produce providers in the UK and Singapore, keeping abreast of British culinary trends, preparation and presentation.
  • Provide wider Residence and High Commission support when required e.g. helping with set-up for major events, supporting broader corporate activity within the Mission.
  • Administrative duties including writing emails, writing and costing menus, attending meetings, managing working hours, maintaining and reporting budgets.
  • Support promotional/media activities outside the day-to-day role to contribute to the promotion of British food and drink (Desirable)
  • Member of the High Commission’s Health and Safety Committee and the Events Committee.
  • At least 2 years’ experience in working as a licensed/professional chef in an international setting (e.g. hotel or catering services).
  • Experience of preparing fine dining cuisine and event catering.
  • An innovative approach to cooking, identifying and using British trends and products.
  • A good knowledge of budgets and reporting processes.
  • Valid driving licence
  • Experience of working in a hotel, restaurant, catering industry.
  • Experience of working with high-profile clients.
  • Experience of delivering cookery demonstrations, working with other chefs
  • Existing knowledge of British produce and producers.  
31 January 2022
Administrative Officer (AO)
Fixed Term, Full-time
44
24 months
Asia Pacific
Singapore
Singapore
British High Commission
1
SGD
SGD 3,744 (With guaranteed 13th and 14th month pay. CPF-in-lieu is given to foreign employees)
14 March 2022

We offer a competitive package, which includes basic salary of SGD 3,744 per month and annual wage supplement [an additional 2 months’ salary paid out in December each year], 23-day annual leave entitlement in pro rata and insurance plan.

BHC will consider applications from candidates in countries from which travel to Singapore is feasible under prevailing Covid related borders restrictions. Singapore will allow entry for fully vaccinated with vaccine approved under WHO EUL. Applicants should be aware that Singapore has mandated that from 1 January 2022 only employees who are fully vaccinated, or have recovered from COVID-19 within 270 days, can return to the workplace.  Singapore will require unvaccinated employees to have a negative Pre-Event Testing (PET) result at their own expense before coming to the office. 

We offer time and financial support for the successful candidate to take advantage of professional learning and development opportunities inside and outside of the organisation.

The British High Commission has an active Learning & Development Committee which works hard to provide a comprehensive L&D offer. There is a wide range of options available for personal development including training courses, coaching and mentoring, job-shadowing, presentations and learning sets. Staff have access to a wide variety of online resources through the International Academy and Civil Service Learning. Staff are strongly encouraged to take advantage of all available opportunities.

All new hires undertake a workplace induction and there are a number of mandatory e-learning courses that must be completed in order to pass probation.

Conditioned working hours for this role are 44 hours per week. This role requires flexibility to sometimes work outside of conditioned hours, e.g. during Ministerial visits and HC events. Overtime pay will be provided in these circumstances.

BHC Singapore supports and promotes flexible working as a crucial part of our inclusive offering.

In addition to the duties which this job normally entails, you may from time to time be required to undertake additional or other duties as necessary to meet the needs of the High Commission, including playing a part in the corporate life of the mission and supporting any crisis response.

Accommodation can be provided on the residence premises.

No relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. You must have or be able to obtain a local work permit which we will sponsor.

Staff recruited locally by the British High Commission are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local Singapore employment law.

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment checks. Only short-listed applications will be called for personal interviews.

The British High Commission is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on grounds of ethnic origin, race, religious beliefs, age, disability, gender or sexual orientation.

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 that your application must be submitted before 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. We regret to advise that we will only be contacting short-listed candidates. Applicants called for an interview will be assessed on the core competencies listed above.

Indicated start date is provisional and subject to successful completion of reference and security checks.

To those applicants not shortlisted, we extend our appreciation for considering the British Government as a potential employer.

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.