View Vacancy - Residence Chef, Brussels (BEL18.594)
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) diplomatic missions in Benelux are part of a world-wide network of over 200 Posts representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas.
Corporate Services Benelux (CSB), a joint service leading on operational support to the UK diplomatic missions in Brussels and Benelux, is now looking for a Residence Chef to join the Brigade to deliver a quality food offer for the Residence operation, providing timely catering for multiple events, cooking varied menus (including British) to a consistently high (5*) standard and working in conjunction with the rest of the kitchen team.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
- To plan creative and appetising menus meeting individual stakeholder requirements and budget, in liaison with Residence Management, catering for any special dietary requirements, responding to feedback, and being flexible to last minute changes;
- To source ingredients within financial guidelines, with attention to minimising wastage, ensuring food service is to standard and on budget, delivering value for money. Knowledge of British ingredients advantageous;
- To maintain accurate records of expenditure and consumption for every event, for month-end accounting purposes;
- To cook food for multiple events (including breakfast, lunch, dinner, sandwich lunch, afternoon tea, canapé reception, buffet, working dinner) and varying numbers of guests, to a consistently high standard of quality and presentation, with emphasis on a modern British style of cuisine;
- To achieve smooth service delivery, via effective communication, directing extra/agency kitchen staff as required, liaising with Maître d’Hôtel and residence management to maintain harmony between kitchen brigade and front of house team;
- Health & Safety: to observe guidance and HACCP procedures to provide a compliant, clean & tidy, safe working environment with no accidents of kitchen hygiene issues;
- Any other ad-hoc duties in accordance with the position, subject to the business needs of the Residence operation.
- Ability to demonstrate chef skills to the highest level, creating new and exciting dishes, to meet individual stakeholder requirements;
- Excellent organisational and planning skills;
- Excellent kitchen management and food hygiene control;
- Cooperation with the relevant UK Missions & Residence staff on event requirements;
- Cook, plan and suggest menus for official events and special requirements following discussion with the Residence / Event Manager;
- Cook and plan menus for various occasions (breakfasts, lunches and dinners);
- Maintain files of past menus and recipes;
- Maintain list of suppliers of fresh food, gastro-services, delivery companies, catering companies etc.;
- Grocery food purchases, maintaining and reconciliation of receipts;
- Contribute to coordination and supervision of kitchen staff;
- Cleaning and maintenance of the kitchen equipment;
- Share responsibility for the inventory in the Residence kitchen;
- A good command of English and French is required;
- Other duties as required.
- Good customer service skills;
- Excellent interpersonal and team-working skills;
- Able to work accurately with focus on detail;
- Demonstrate initiative and flexibility;
- Basic computer skills (Word, Excel, Outlook);
- Experience in the diplomatic field is an advantage;
- Knowledge of British ingredients is an advantage.
This is a permanent full-time position, where you will be expected to work a maximum of 40 hours over a 5 day period, over 7. The nature of the work within this busy Residence means that you will be expected to demonstrate flexibility in your hours and timetable of work - often at short notice. This may include night and shift working, variable hours, weekend and bank holiday working. Time off in lieu (TOIL) will be granted for additional hours worked at the discretion of the Residence Manager.
The monthly salary for this position is €3,175.72 A2 (L) level (The British Diplomatic Missions in Belgium salaries are not subject to annual indexation).
Please note that Belgian nationals will be paid their salary gross and are expected to comply with their tax obligations through completion of a tax return to the Belgian authorities. Non-Belgian nationals will receive their salary net, minus the deduction of an equivalent level of Belgian tax retained at source. Further information on this will be given to candidates during the recruitment process.
The successful candidates will be subject to professional background checks and security clearance.
Staff recruited locally by the British Diplomatic Missions in Belgium are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Belgian employment law.
Visa/passport requirements: Must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Belgium and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract.
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.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
