Operational Culinary Delivery Lead

Operational Culinary Delivery Lead

Bridgwater area, Somerset

£55,000 gross per annum plus benefits

Want to work for a company where Togetherness, Nurture, Pride and Planet are at the heart of everything they do? Then look no further, Somerset Larder produces fresh food and meals to go using locally sourced ingredients from all over the west country. Our philosophy is to nourish the community with amazing produce, to employ local people and to train apprentices for future careers in the catering and hospitality sector.

At Somerset Larder, our Values have been set by our staff. Our Values exist for the good of our working lives and company performance. Our Values are:

• Togetherness - “Be a tractor not a trailer.”
• Nurture - “You grow, I grow, we grow.”
• Pride - “We can and we will”
• Planet - “We’re part of a bigger picture”

Job Description

Are you a passionate and experienced catering professional ready to take the lead in a dynamic, high-quality culinary environment? We are seeking an Operational Culinary Delivery Lead to drive excellence in food production across our catering operations.

In this role, you will strategically and operationally manage our culinary teams, ensuring the highest standards of food preparation, production, and service are consistently achieved. With a focus on motivational leadership, you will guide, inspire, and develop our teams to deliver exceptional culinary and customer experiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & Team Management: Lead and motivate operational culinary teams to achieve consistent standards in food production and service through inspirational and inclusive leadership.
• Inspiring Excellence: Engage and empower managers and team members to continuously raise standards of culinary competence and professional credibility.
• Performance Monitoring: Monitor team performance, providing constructive feedback to foster professional growth and operational improvements.
• Collaborative Networking: Build and maintain proactive relationships with colleagues, suppliers, professional associates, and stakeholders to drive continuous improvement and meet strategic KPIs.
• Culinary Standards & Planning: Oversee food preparation, production, and menu planning, ensuring all operations meet agreed quality standards and customer requirements.
• Compliance Management: Ensure compliance with Food Safety Quality Management Systems (FSQMS), including SOPs (standard operating procedures) and HACCP.

About You

You’ll bring a wealth of expertise, experience and qualifications to this role, including:

• Leadership Experience: Proven ability to lead and manage catering teams with an inclusive and motivational approach.
• Culinary Expertise: High standards of culinary and catering knowledge, supported by professional chef qualifications
• Operational Experience: Extensive experience in large-scale catering services, ideally in a multi-site and 24/7 operational setting.
• Quality Focus: A track record of raising culinary standards through tangible actions, influence, and persuasion.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, capable of engaging large groups and individual conversations.

Qualifications

• Chef qualified (e.g., City & Guilds 706/1 & 2, NVQ Level 2, or Commis Chef Level 2)
• Food Safety qualification (with the ability and desire to achieve Food Hygiene Level 4)
• Good knowledge of food safety management (FSM)
• Good knowledge of HACCP systems operation

Why Join Us?

• Be part of an organisation committed to culinary excellence and continuous improvement
• Enjoy a role where your leadership and expertise will shape the future of catering operations
• Work in a supportive environment with the values of Togetherness, Nurture, Pride and Planet

South West Larder offers a generous benefits package which includes:

• Employee Assistance Programme
• 30 days holiday (including bank holidays)
• Christmas Shutdown
• Flexible shift options
• Ongoing Learning, Development & Training
• Access to Occupational Health
• Cycle Scheme
• Pension Scheme (5% matched)
• Free Meal on Shift

Closing Date: Monday 20 January 2205

1st stage interviews: 22 to 29 January 2025

2nd stage interviews: early February 2025

Take the next step in your culinary leadership journey - apply today and help us deliver outstanding food and service experiences!