Our Company: Hollybush Nurseries Ltd, established in 1982, is one of the largest independent family owned Garden Centres in the UK. We pride ourselves on our progressive leadership and our continuous approach to innovation and investment. Our mission is to become the best in class, and we will achieve this with the support of dedicated team of people. Department: Hospitality Reports to: Hospitality General Manager Hours of Work & Contract: Full time, working 5 days out of 7, to include weekends, Bank Holidays and very occasional late nights. Job Summary: Joining the existing team that currently operate a successful Café, Play Area Café, Restaurant and several on-site satellite kiosks, you will work in the main kitchen and be responsible for delivering a traditional British menu to a high standard, to include Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch and Afternoon Tea. Note that Hollybush does not offer a regular dinner service. This is a significant position for an experienced Chef/Cook who has previous experience leading a team of up to 6. The role will be pivotal in transforming the existing Hollybush 240 cover restaurant, to include menu development and delivery. The role encompasses team development and helping to lead the team during the significant planned refurbishment of the front and back of house. Essential Skills, Experience and Qualifications • Have a minimum of 2 years experience as a Head Cook/Chef working within a large scale, high volume traditional restaurant operation. • Be able to demonstrate strong leadership skills. • Be able to demonstrate people development skills. • Have a fundamental understanding of menu development, seasonality, menu costing and margin protection. • Have strong budgeting experience. • Have excellent, hands on experience as a Cook/Chef. • Be comfortable working with and leading an established kitchen team. • Demonstrate strong organizational skills. • Have an excellent working knowledge of cook-chill, batch, hot-holding and scratch cooking. • Be able to produce traditional British fayre to a high consistently high standard, potion size and with minimal wastage. • Hold a current Level 3 Food Hygiene certificate and be prepared to work towards an Advanced Food Hygiene certificate. • Have previous experience in supplier engagement and stock management. • Have a good level of competency using Word, Excel and EPoS systems. • Have a conscientious, flexible ‘can do attitude’. • Good working knowledge of current health and safety requirements. • Excellent verbal and written communication skills. • Be able to demonstrate exceptional training and development skills. Desirable Skills, Experience and Qualifications: • Confidentiality, discretion, and an awareness of the Date Protection Act ‘GDPR’. Main Duties & Responsibilities: • Be part of the Back of House Team. • Be passionate about delivering traditional British food to the highest standards. • Integrate with the existing hospitality team and have a hands on approach to service. • Support, maintain and develop the kitchen Standard Operating Procedures and menu recipe specifications. • Deliver the highest standards consistently while maintaining a friendly approach. • Maintain a 5 level of food hygiene and health and safety. • Work within agreed budgetary guidelines. • Lead menu development and deliver savings where possible without impacting on standards. • Support the highest possible standards of service, quality, and product knowledge. • Attend daily and periodic team briefings as may be required. • Ensure compliance with all statutory regulations. • Ensure that all data collected is done so within the GDPR framework. • Maintain excellent communication & relationships between restaurant, kitchen, admin teams, & other departments within Hollybush Garden Centre. • Work alongside the Hospitality General Manager to develop menus, promotional activity, and events, focusing on seasonality. • Have full responsibility of the day-to-day kitchen, purchasing and back of house staff deployment. • Review all stock loss prevention controls and develop practices specific to the needs of business. • Order stock within agreed budgetary guidelines to deliver minimal wastage. • Ensure that the kitchen is maintained to the highest standard possible to include ongoing housekeeping and planned maintenance. • Attend any development courses as may be deemed appropriate. • Assist Hollybush Garden Centre in achieving national recognition, including trade awards. • Attend local trade events. • Support other departments within Hollybush Garden Centre as may be required. • Ensuring teamwork is at the heart of all decisions. Other Duties & responsibilities: • Any other duties that may be deemed necessary, including deputising for senior members of the team. Measures Of Performance - Specific targets will be given against the following areas: • Work within spend and purchasing targets as set by the Hospitality Manager. • Achieve gross profit margin in excess of 74%. • Be able to report on agreed Key Performance Indicators. • Record customer feedback and deliver action plans to minimise repetition. • Maintain the highest 5 star level of food hygiene, health and safety. • Have an excellent working relationship with other departments within Hollybush Garden Centre. • Maintains all hospitality areas to the highest standards possible, both visually and operationally.