View Vacancy - Residence Chef (BEL22.231)

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

Our daily work relies on the input of dedicated individuals who engage on many different topics and activities. We seek to employ a diverse range of candidates who bring their own talents and perspectives to the role. We have a strong corporate agenda that ensures we create a positive and inclusive working environment where everyone is valued for their contribution.

 

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s (FCDO) diplomatic missions in Benelux are part of a world-wide network of over 230 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 standard and working in conjunction with the rest of the kitchen team. 

 

Main Duties and responsibilities:

  • To achieve smooth service delivery, via effective communication, scheduling and directing agency kitchen staff as required, liaising with Maître d’hôtel and residence management to maintain harmony between kitchen brigade and front of house team;
  • 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 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 manage suppliers and source ingredients within financial guidelines, with attention to minimising wastage, ensuring food service is to standard and on budget, delivering value for money.
  • To work with Residence Management in reconciling monthly reports on expenditure and consumption by maintaining accurate records of expenditure and consumption for every event;
  • Health & Safety: to observe guidance and HACCP procedures to provide a compliant, clean & tidy, safe working environment with no accidents or kitchen hygiene issues and maintain an ecological approach to waste and recycling in the kitchen operation;
  • 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;
  • Cook, plan and suggest menus for official events and special requirements following discussion with the Residence Manager;
  • Maintain records of past menus and recipes;
  • Maintain list of suppliers of fresh food, gastro-services, delivery companies, catering companies etc.;
  • Grocery purchases, maintaining and reconciliation of receipts and processing of expenses accordingly;
  • Cleaning and maintenance of the kitchen equipment.
  • A good command of English and French is required
  • Applicants should hold a Certificat d'Aptitude Professionnel.
  • Excellent interpersonal, leadership and team-working skills;
  • Demonstrate initiative and flexibility;
  • Comfortable using IT systems for communication (MS Teams) and basic Excel skills;
  • Experience in the diplomatic field is an advantage;
  • Knowledge of British ingredients is an advantage.
Changing and Improving, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace
29 May 2022
Administrative Officer (AO)
Full-time, Permanent
40
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Belgium
Brussels
British Embassy
1
EUR
3,699.57 (gross)
27 June 2022

This is a permanent full-time position, where you will be expected to work 40 hours per week, 5 days over 7, on a shift basis as per operational requirements. The nature of the work is such that you will be expected to demonstrate flexibility regarding your working hours. Occasionally, this may include working early in the morning, late in the day, and on weekends. In agreement with your line manager, time off in lieu (TOIL) will be granted for any additional hours worked.

 

The monthly gross salary for this position is € 3,699.57, Administrative Officer (AO) level. In addition, we offer an extensive salary package, which includes a 13th month, a meal allowance, an optional hospitalisation insurance (subject to monthly employee contribution), reimbursement of public transport and a lot more. We offer more days of annual leave than the Belgian requirements.

 

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.

 

Staff recruited locally by the British Diplomatic Missions in Belgium are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Belgian employment law.

 

The successful candidates will be subject to professional background checks and security clearance.

 

Passport: officers are expected to be in possession of a passport due to the possibility that they may be asked to undertake business travel.

 

The UK Missions provide a wide range of Learning & Development opportunities, from face-to-face courses to webinars and e-learning programmes. We will support you throughout your time at the Residence with training, taking into account your future ambitions and aiming to provide relevant exposure to the areas that interest you.

Visa/work permit requirements: Candidates 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 it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country.

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 bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your languages skills are going to be assessed.

Please be advised 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 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.