Are you looking to develop your career in food and drink? We’re looking for a Head Chef/Kitchen Manager to join us. This is an opportunity to play a key role in running our friendly and very busy Food & Beverage department.

The National Trust is Europe's largest conservation charity, but it's also renowned for its food and hospitality. We run 185 cafes all over England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and we'd love you to join us.

Because we are in a rural area, please think about how you’d be able to get here for work, before applying for the job.

Internally this role is known as 'Head Chef'.

Benefits: We want to help you look after the things that matter to you, such as saving for your future, getting a discount on your weekly shop, or encouraging you to find a work-life balance. Please read our package, below, to see what benefits we offer you.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, working weekends on a rota basis.

Salary: £32,500

Duration: Permanent

Reporting into the Senior Food & Beverage Manager, you'll be responsible for the day-to-day management of our Cafe kitchen. Our cafe offers a vibrant selection of brunch and lunch dishes, most of which are prepared daily on site, as well as our renowned National Trust baked items including fresh scones and cakes all year round. You'll guide and develop our existing team of cooks and kitchen assistants building on their strengths and providing opportunities for up and coming talent. You'll maintain a safe environment for our visitors and staff, and you will work with our F&B and property management team to continue to grow the business over the coming years.

Polesden Lacey is one of the busiest properties in the National Trust and we attract a wide range of visitors all year round. Our menus reflect what is great about the seasons and we operate as sustainably as possible whist meeting the needs our visitors. It’s inspiring to work in such a beautiful setting with the added benefit of not working in the evenings or having to do split shifts.

To find out more about what it’s like to work in a food and beverage team for the National Trust, click here to watch our video.

As Head Chef your main focus will be within the kitchen. But you’ll also work closely with the Food and Beverage management team to develop delicious menus using local produce, adapting to the seasons and working within the framework of our ‘National Trust Cookbook’.

You’ll look for new ways to increase income and meet financial targets through managing stock and waste. You’ll be preparing food from scratch using fresh seasonal ingredients including main meals and bakery items.

You’ll support and manage the team, guided by the Trust’s values, empowering them to give the best possible service to visitors and helping to build a great place to work.

We’ll give you an induction that fits the job, and training in allergens and food safety, plus any mentoring needed to help you in your role. You can sign up for further professional training and development if you wish.

Please also read the full role profile, attached to this advert.

• experienced as a professional chef, with a passion for food and a friendly and positive attitude
• confident about following recipes and batch-cooking, and willing to learn
• aware of health and safety compliance
• happy leading a team, and able to set personal objectives and give feedback to help improve performance
• aware of budgets such as increasing income and controlling costs
• ability to monitor and control resources, including stock and staffing
• ability to lead a culture of exceptional service, using customer feedback to improve the visitor experience

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

• Rental deposit loan scheme

• Season ticket loan

• EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)

• Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts

• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.

• Flexible working whenever possible

• Employee assistance programme

• Free parking at most Trust places

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.