Job Description

About Us:

At Absolute Taste, we specialize in creating unforgettable fine dining experiences aboard Woods' Silver Fleet on the stunning River Thames. Our passion for exceptional food, impeccable service, and unique settings has made us a leader in luxury hospitality. We are seeking a talented

Head Chef

to join our culinary team, bringing creativity, leadership, and culinary excellence to every service.

Objective:

To lead the Absolute Taste culinary team at Woods' Silver Fleet, delivering an exceptional fine dining experience while ensuring the highest culinary standards, operational efficiency, and team development.

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Delivery:

Lead kitchen operations

, ensuring high standards of food quality, consistency, and service are maintained at all times.

Manage food procurement and stock control

, building strong relationships with suppliers to secure high-quality ingredients at competitive prices.

Control kitchen costs

, balancing quality with efficiency to meet budgetary targets while maintaining exceptional standards.

Oversee daily kitchen activities

, ensuring smooth and efficient operations, from prep through to service and breakdown. Attend key meetings and

work closely with Woods' Silver Fleet leadership

to ensure operational alignment and effective communication across departments.

Menu & Product Development:

Lead the creation and execution of menus

, developing innovative dishes that align with Absolute Taste's standards and brand.

Drive the development of new culinary concepts

for events, ensuring consistency and creativity in every dish served. Stay ahead of culinary trends and bring new ideas and techniques to the team, elevating the dining experience on the River Thames.

People Management:

Lead, train, and develop a high-performing kitchen team

, including managing both full-time and casual staff. Oversee the

scheduling and rostering

of the kitchen team, ensuring adequate staffing levels for smooth operations. Foster a

positive, inclusive, and supportive kitchen environment

, promoting collaboration and a strong team culture. Conduct regular team briefings, providing clear communication and ensuring team members are aligned on expectations, responsibilities, and goals.

Training & Health & Safety:

Ensure adherence to all food safety standards

and hygiene regulations, maintaining the highest level of cleanliness and safety in the kitchen. Conduct

onboarding and training sessions

for new kitchen staff, ensuring they are familiar with operational procedures and health & safety protocols. Continuously review and improve kitchen operations, implementing best practices to ensure efficiency and compliance with regulations.

Operational Reporting & Equipment Management:

Ensure all

reporting deadlines

are met, including rotas, stocktaking, and any other required documentation. Maintain an

organized and well-managed kitchen

, ensuring that equipment is well cared for and that storage areas are tidy and efficient. Keep accurate records of equipment breakdowns and manage the

maintenance or replacement of kitchen tools

as needed.

Essential Skills & Experience:

Experience as a Head Chef

or in a senior kitchen leadership role, preferably in a fine dining or high-end event setting.

Strong leadership skills

, with a proven track record of developing and managing a high-performing team.

Excellent organizational skills

, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively. Experience in

budget management

, cost control, and menu development. A

creative approach

to menu development, with a passion for culinary innovation and high-quality food production. Proficiency in

kitchen management software

(e.g., CRMS, Fourth) and basic

Microsoft Office

tools (Word, Excel
INDBOH