We are seeking a dynamic, passionate, and commercially minded Executive Chef to lead our school’s catering department. This is not just a kitchen role; you will be the "face" of our culinary brand, driving the quality of our school meals and fostering positive relationships with pupils, parents, and staff.
The ideal candidate will combine exceptional culinary skills with strong leadership capabilities and a proven track record of driving revenue growth. You will be responsible for elevating our daily meal offerings, increasing pupil lunch participation, managing a dedicated kitchen team, and delivering high-quality catering for school events.
Key Responsibilities
Culinary Leadership & Quality Assurance
● Menu Innovation: Design and implement nutritious, exciting, and balanced menus that appeal to pupils while meeting all school nutritional guidelines.
● Quality Control: Elevate the standard of food preparation, presentation, and taste across all daily meal services.
● Dietary Management: Oversee menus for pupils with specific allergies, intolerances, and dietary requirements, ensuring strict compliance with food safety standards.
● Health and Safety Inspection: Ensure that all HACCP standards are complied to.
Team Management & Development
● Leadership: Manage and inspire a kitchen team of 6 staff members, promoting a positive, collaborative, and high-performance kitchen culture.
● Direct Supervision: Provide direct mentorship, training, and performance management to the [Sous Chef / Second Chef], who reports directly to you.
● Scheduling: Oversee staff rotas, training, and daily task delegation to ensure efficient kitchen operations.
Community Engagement & Public Relations
● The Face of Catering: Act as the primary ambassador for the school’s food culture, regularly engaging with pupils during lunch service to gather feedback.
● Parent Liaison: Present at parent-teacher evenings or forums, address parental queries regarding nutrition and menu choices, and proactively manage feedback.
● Pupil Uptake: Develop creative initiatives (e.g., themed food days, tasting sessions) to actively increase the number of pupils opting for school lunches.
Commercial Drive & Event Catering
● Revenue Generation: Optimize kitchen operations and meal participation to drive financial growth and profitability.
● Event Catering: Concept, budget, and execute high-quality catering for internal and external school events (e.g., sports days, open mornings, PTA events).
● Supplier & Stock Management: Oversee all supply ordering, manage inventory levels, reduce food waste, and negotiate with suppliers to ensure maximum cost-effectiveness.
IPS Cascais British International School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We particularly welcome applications from under represented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.
Successful applications will be subject to child protection screening, including robust vetting procedures, checks with past employers, and relevant safeguarding assessments.