Lead Chef, Community Meals Service

"Exciting & rewarding role to prepare 600 meals to vulnerable residents in Hackney!"

Post:                          Lead Chef, Meal Deliveries, Made in Hackney (MIH)

Hours:                        2 days a week – Tuesdays and Thursdays (8.00am-5.00pm) 

Location:                   Queen of Hoxton, 1 Curtain Rd, London EC2A 3JX

Freelance Rate:          £20 per hour

Contract Period:        12 months

Reports To:              Shaki Mbisa, Head Chef

SUMMARY

You will have experience as a catering chef in a busy kitchen environment. You will have a passion for local, seasonal, organic, plant-based food. You will also be able to communicate effectively the social benefits and Made in Hackney’s USP to partner organisations, beneficiaries and suppliers.

The experience of working for Made in Hackney is varied, unique and rewarding. There is plenty of room for the successful candidate to be creative and bring new ideas for developing the service.

SUMMARY

Responsibilities include:

·      Work alongside a kitchen team of 3 other chefs (Head Chef, Lead Chef and Support Chef) and volunteers to prepare, cook and serve 550-600 meals twice a week (180-200 portions each);

·      Develop monthly menu ideas alongside the rest of the chef team;

·      Send recipes and equipment needs to Head Chef each week;

·      Provide volunteers with clear instructions on food prep, service and clean down tasks, giving support where needed;

·      Adhere to all special meal requirements for food allergies and dislikes;

·      Manage full clean down after each kitchen shift;

·      Follow all Health and Safety protocols and additional COVID19 safety precautions and undertake any additional training as required;

·      Take turn, in rotation with other chefs, to wash aprons and dish towels at home.

·      Report any safeguarding concerns to MIH’s Safeguarding Lead.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

·      Ideally 2 years minimum experience as a catering chef;

·      Experience of working in a commercial and/or community kitchen;

·      Strong communication and interpersonal skills;

·      Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage a variety of tasks simultaneously;

·      Ability to take initiative, be flexible and think creatively on a limited budget;

·      Ability to deal with, and have empathy for, a diverse range of people including vulnerable groups;

·      A passion for organic plant-based food;

·      Enthusiasm, energy and a positive attitude.

BENEFITS

·      Training in Emergency First Aid in in the Workplace, Food Safety, and Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults and Children;

·      Staff discount of 10% in Food For All Health Food Shop on Cazenove Road N16;

·      Free attendance of MIH CookaLong classes.

To Apply:

Please either:

1)    Complete the online application form here  

OR

2)    Send in a short 5 - 10minute video application explaining why you feel you’re appropriate for the role to rashmi@madeinhackney.org

Deadline: 5pm Thursday 10th March 2022

Post commences: As soon as possible after appointment

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Equal Opportunity and Anti Racism

We have a strong commitment to promote diversity, equality and equal opportunities. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups, whether these be of ethnicity, gender, identity, religion, physical ability, sexual orientation or other.

Made In Hackney is on a journey of embedding anti-racism practice into all areas of our work. The Community Food Manager would welcome this and participate in this organisational journey.

Background on Made in Hackney

Made in Hackney is a pioneering community cookery school and charity. We teach vital cooking, composting and food growing skills that are good for people and planet. In our classes we draw people's attention to the much-overlooked reality of, 'without a healthy planet, how can we be healthy people?' We therefore teach people in fun and inspiring ways healthy eating and lifestyle skills alongside environmental best practice. Our courses are attended by local charities, housing associations, support groups and community groups most in need of developing food skills. We also run courses in other community kitchens around London such as the Redmond Community Centre, Lea View Hall, and in Age UK community centres in Barnet and Peckham.

For our COVID-19 crisis, we set up a free meal delivery service to the most vulnerable members of the community, and a Juicing Service for the NHS.

Instagram madeinhackney  Twitter @Made_In_Hackney

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