View Vacancy - Chef to Her Britannic Majesty’s Ambassador (TJK21.411)

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 in Dushanbe is part of a worldwide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking for a Chef to the British Ambassador’s Residence in Dushanbe.

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 new hire 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 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 Dushanbe. You will be the first Chef at The British Residence in Dushanbe for around 2 years and so you will have a ‘blank page’ on which to develop your own skills and use your expertise to a high standard ensuring 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. 

Main duties 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;
  • 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; 
  • Cooking experience in a restaurant or a diplomatic mission is desirable
  • Must have a desire to learn to cook other national cuisines apart from British, including Italian, French, Thai, Indian, etc. and be able to create own unique recipes.
  • Effective communication, intermediate written and spoken in English (B1 level, according to CEFR*);
  • Commercial /professional experience working as a Chef or Cook for high quality events;
  • capability to flex between small-scale lunches 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;
  • Effective communication, written and spoken in Tajik and/or Russian.
20 September 2021
Administrative Officer (AO)
Full-time
35
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Tajikistan
Dushanbe
British Embassy
1
USD
USD 822.27 (Gross) Monthly
1 October 2021

This position is a full-time fixed-term contract for 1 year, with possibility of renewal.

The successful candidate, will be subject to confirmation of a professional background check and security clearance.

All applicants should have the right to live and work in Tajikistan. The British Embassy does not sponsor applications for work permits.

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in Dushanbe are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law.

Visa / passport requirements: must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Tajikistan 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.

The British Embassy Dushanbe has Covid19 safe measures in place. As a result, access to the Embassy is on a rota basis at the moment, and some working from home will be expected. 

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.

* Please note Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment indicates Level C1 as Mastery or proficiency Level which comprehends that a person can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read; can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation; can express themselves spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations. For more information please click on the following link CEFR.

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.