Position: Cook
Location: Hawthornden Castle, Midlothian, Scotland
Salary: £24,000 – £27,000 pro rata
Contract: Permanent, Part Time
Working Hours: Either 18.5 or 25 hours p/w
Working Pattern: Either 3 or 4-days p/w
The Organisation:
Established in 1982 as a charity, Hawthornden Foundation has grown internationally with residences in Italy and the United States. The Foundation aims to support creative writers by providing a peaceful sanctuary, free from distractions and pressures. Additionally, the organisation provides funding on a global scale and annually awards the Hawthornden Prize, one of Britain’s oldest major literary prizes, recognising outstanding talent.
The foundation's main activity is hosting a writers' retreat at Hawthornden Castle. This retreat offers writers from around the world a unique opportunity to focus solely on their work without the distractions of daily life. Residencies typically last for one month, during which writers are provided with accommodation, meals, and the peace and quiet necessary to write. Many writers who have participated in the residency programme have gone on to produce significant works, furthering the foundation's impact on the literary world.
Why Join Us?
Joining the Hawthornden Foundation means becoming part of a dedicated team that values creativity and excellence. In this role, you will have the opportunity to contribute to a unique environment, a small and cohesive team, with fantastic working hours and rewards. With renovation project almost completed, the kitchen has received a full overhaul and been redesigned to improve operations, safety and cooking requirements.
Mission and Values — Hawthornden Foundation
Responsibilities:
As the Cook, your responsibilities will include preparing a variety of dishes from the menu, ensuring they meet high standards of quality and presentation. This covers all meals—breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A strong understanding of various cooking techniques and the ability to use and maintain kitchen equipment are essential. Keeping a clean and organised kitchen whilst adhering to health and safety regulations will be critical to this role. This includes the proper storage of ingredients, cleaning of equipment, and ensuring hygiene standards are consistently met.
You will work closely with the Head Cook to ensure efficient service, especially during busy periods. This involves clear communication and teamwork to ensure the standards of the food being presented to our guests lives up to the Hawthornden name and enhances their experience. You will also keep track of kitchen supplies and ingredients, placing orders as needed to ensure the kitchen is well-stocked.
Our cooks are responsible for preparing ingredients, cleaning and maintaining equipment, and plating dishes. Additionally, you will also be responsible for keeping the kitchen and pantry organised and stocked.
Our guests come from all over the world, have different demands and diets, and can request different dishes daily, with the requirement to be flexible with your cooking approach being crucial. We want to make sure that our guests receive the smoothest and most relaxed experience during their stay. Food is power for the brain, and we want our guests experiencing excellent meals, with excellent service.
Experience and Competencies:
1. Proven track record within a culinary/kitchen environment.
2. Food Safety Standards must be upkept to prevent foodborne illnesses, ensure meals are safe to eat, and maintain guest trust.
3. Proven ability to follow recipes and instructions accurately.
4. Computer literate in communications, inventory management and Microsoft software.
5. Ability to manage time effectively.
6. Personal values and hospitality skills.
7. Certifications in Food Safety & Hygiene and Professional Cookery would be desirable.
8. Proficient in English (both written and spoken).
Apply Now
Please email us at recruitment@brucetaitassociates.com to request an information pack, full job description and person specification.
Closing Date: Monday 24th February
We regularly review applications and reserve the right to close an advert early if we identify suitable candidates. To avoid disappointment, submit your application as soon as possible.
This search is being conducted for The Hawthornden Foundation by BTA. Our leadership team have all worked in the voluntary sector and we use this experience to match organisations and individuals to create great appointments.
We are committed to building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working environment for all staff. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age; ethnicity; gender; gender identity and expression; nationality; parental status; physical, mental and developmental abilities; race; religion; sexual orientation; skin colour; socioeconomic status; and human styles.
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