Customer Dedicated Executive Chef

2 months ago

Ashford UK, Kent, United Kingdom Gate Gourmet Full time

Job Summary:

The Customer Dedicated Executive Chef role is dedicated to a strategic airline partner for the development of new menus and culinary concepts for the UK&I and U.S.A. These concepts may cross a range of global cuisines to align with our client’s brand values, food vision and corporate identity. The job holder will also be accountable for food services across all cabin classes and will align with Procurement to use approved suppliers to ensure menu items meet customer expectations, budget, nutritional and allergen requirements, sustainability standards and operational needs. In addition, they will be responsible for all client related kitchen operations in the UK&I and the U.S.A, influencing training and ensuring a high quality of culinary standard.


The role requires a substantial amount of travel within the UK, pre-dominantly between Heathrow and Gatwick but also to the USA as and when on-site presence is required.


Main Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Ensure the delivery of world class menu development and production services to the strategic customer reflecting their signature culinary style / requirements.
  • Working closely alongside the Commercial Account Team, act as the gategroup expert with respect to the culinary offering the airline provides its customers’ with, while ensuring that a high level of customer experience is maintained.
  • Actively engage with the customer, understand their needs, and meet customer requirements to secure the confidence of the customer and strengthen the levels of consistent quality in service.
  • Assist the customer with the development of food philosophies and standards and ensure gategroup has the capability to deliver consistently against the customer's culinary standards.
  • Build relationships with Division Regional Executive Chefs and Airline Unit Chefs to ensure clear communication of expectations and deliverables. Articulate the customer needs with respect to raw materials, helping identify and secure suppliers to meet the requirements.
  • Partner with the Customer Lead Executive Chefs and Regional Executive Chefs to ensure seamless integration of menu requirements into production and ensure menus are consistently executable in-flight via gategroup or supplier partner production environment, aligning with the UK&I Culinary Innovation Executive Chef
  • Act as the point of contact for the customer regarding menus, food, and kitchen service requirements.
  • Ensure new specifications, recipes, and photos are properly documented and delivered for pricing analysis for each menu cycle change and for any iterations or amendments as may be required in-cycle.
  • Monitor customer feedback and ensure appropriate corrective actions are taken in a timely manner, documenting the same via the menu grids, recipes, specifications, and photos.
  • Travel to designated units to inspect, audit, train and make recommendations for improvements.
  • Lead the preparation of all culinary aspects of the food presentations to the customer including but not limited to the food presentation, messaging, ingredients, and physical appearance of the local kitchen.
  • Actively participate as a member of the account management team that includes the Executive Management Board sponsor, VP Group Culinary Excellence, Regional Executive Chef North-West Europe, and Global Account Director making contributions that result in winning, retaining and/or building the business.
  • Deliver customer expectations, business objectives, and targets to optimize company resources.
  • Conduct both internal and customer required quality assurance checks and make immediate changes as necessary.
  • Participate in menu cycle changes/start-ups for the customer.
  • Contribute to menu presentations, tenders, and workshops in the UK&I & USA as required.
  • Optimize manpower, product, and equipment levels for efficiency through dish and menu design – aligning with the UK&I Culinary Innovation Executive Chef
  • Resolve operational issues promptly and cost-effectively.
  • Ensure recipes designed and produced are compliant with legislative requirements, including Food Safety, Health and Safety, Security, and Environmental controls.
  • Implement innovations and support continuous improvement within the department and across the business.
  • Manage related administrative work efficiently.
  • Adheres to gategroup’s corporate policies and procedures.


Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

  • Certification/Degree/Diploma from a recognized post-secondary culinary institution.
  • Management/Leadership & Sustainability & Corporate responsibility qualification an advantage


Work Experience:

  • Extensive experience as an Executive Chef, ideally with previous experience in a similar role.
  • Experience in a menu design/planning role is essential.
  • Experience in an In-flight catering or a high-volume food service environment preferable.
  • Extensive experience in managing a large-scale food manufacturing department and associated teams.
  • Previous experience of managing budgets, financial and performance related KPIs/targets


Skills & Knowledge:

  • Understanding of large-scale production and assembly essential
  • Lean Management Skills
  • Effective verbal and written communication skills in English.
  • Ability to flex presentation / communication styles to different target audiences.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to adapt approach and behaviors to engage and build rapport with various and, often difficult, stakeholders.
  • Ability to lead and work as part of a team driving engagement and productivity.
  • Innovative and proactive thinker with a Customer Focused approach.
  • Demonstrable experience of managing through KPI’s.
  • Computer literate and proficient in MS Office (Word/Excel/Powerpoint).
  • Financial Budgetary skills and demonstrable experience.


About the company:

Gategroup is the leading independent global provider of products, services and solutions related to a passenger’s on-board experience. We specialize in catering and hospitality, provisioning and logistics; and on-board products and services to companies that serve people on the move.


Our portfolio is designed to meet the fast-changing needs of our customers around the world. We do this by offering end-to-end solutions through our group of companies. While each company addresses a specific market need, together they can also operate in an integrated way to provide a ‘one-stop-shop’ for our customers.


Other informaton:

All applicants must have the right to work in the UK, undertake a CRC (Criminal Record Check) and provide 5 years of checkable referencing history. For anytime spent outside the UK exceeding 6 months, you must be able to provide a CRC (Criminal Record Check) for that country. If you share our values of excellence, passion, respect and responsibility, don’t miss out on this opportunity to join our team. Apply TODAY.

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