Sous Chef at River Cottage

River Cottage Mission Statement:

To teach and inspire people to grow, source and cook food in ways that enhance their lives, increase their well-being, and connect them more closely to natural, sustainable, and ethical sources of food.

What we do:

We are an organic 80-acre farm renowned worldwide for our commitment to seasonal, local, organic food and sustainable, ethical sourcing. We grow, rear and produce as much of the food as we can right here on the farm, catering for a very varied range of events, from tasting menu feasts, to Sunday lunches and cookery courses, as well as weddings and bespoke occasions.

Purpose of Job:

If you’re tired of being stuck in a stuffy kitchen and cooking towards the same menu items every day, this opportunity might be exactly what you need. No workday is ever the same as the next here!

As our sous chef and tutor, you will juggle various responsibilities, from coming up with and executing inventive menus for our multiple-courses dinners and lunches, to teaching cookery courses and cooking demonstrations. Be prepared to think on your feet and get creative with whatever delicious produce is available from the farm and our wonderful local suppliers, as we work so closely with the land that menus change daily.

Due to the nature of our events calendar, your work pattern will vary, but you can expect to mostly work in the daytime, 5 days a week and only one or two evening shifts per week.

You will be working in close collaboration with our head chef to co-lead our small but diverse kitchen team, managing day to day operations and organisation such as ordering and communicating with suppliers.

KEY TASKS

To deliver all in house cookery courses to the highest possible standard

• To form good relationships with all River Cottage contributors and provide top level support for the delivery of their courses.
• To ensure the cook school equipment is maintained well reporting any issues to the Head Chef
• To liaise with the Head chef to ensure all produce and consumables are ordered in a timely fashion for all cookery classes.
• To produce accurate and relevant recipe and information packs for each cookery school
• To liaise with the Head Chef to organise any chefs needed to cover gaps in the cook school schedule.
• To always promote and operate within the River Cottage ethos
• To continually develop existing courses as well as creating new ones
• To ensure all course run within their allocated costs.
• To continually review ways of reducing waste
• To work in any other area of food operations including but not limited to, dining events, weddings, and bespoke events.

Practices

• Ensure that all company assets, stock, and property are well cared for and secure at all times.
• Maintain and monitor the highest standards of Hygiene and Health & Safety in accordance with all statutory, legal and company requirements. Ensure all due diligence & HACCP documentation is recorded & filed.
• Ensure the proper implementation of all company policies and procedures.
• Hold and attend training and team meetings as required.
• Communicate company policies, procedures, and standards and to ensure that these are fully understood, implemented, and always adhered to.
• Undertake any such other duties as may reasonably be required by the company in your own or other River Cottage Outlet
• To always act as an ambassador for the River Cottage and to carry out PR activities when requested.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £35,000.00-£38,000.00 per year

Additional pay:

• Tips

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Discounted or free food
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• On-site parking
• Referral programme
• Sick pay
• Store discount

Schedule:

• Weekend availability

How to Apply

If this sounds like the perfect role for you, we’d love to hear from you! Send us a few lines about yourself, your passion for cooking, and why you want to work with us at careers@rivercottage.net or get in touch via our website contact form. Feel free to attach your CV, although it’s not essential.