Executive Chef – Oxfordshire

This is a position best suited to applicants who have ample experience catering for large numbers in an event or corporate catering environment, in addition to a background as a private Chef in the world of UHNW clientele.

You will cater for shoots from October to February where you can expect around 70 in the field and 15 guns in addition to staff catering. Then for two weeks in May and again in October, the Principal will be in residence where you can expect to cook as a brigade of 12 chefs and 6 kitchen porters catering for 250.

When in residence the Principal will travel with 6 chefs to prepare cuisine local to his home country, leaving you and 5 further chefs to prepare British and European dishes. 4-6 kitchen hands are typically in place during these visits. There are two commercial kitchens on site to keep each cuisine separate and ensure kitchens run smoothly.

The estate is a beautiful setup with significant property on site including cottages and a church. There are livestock including Aberdeen Angus cattle, sheep, game birds, deer, plus honey bees, berry orchards and a kitchen garden currently under construction.

The client’s Estate Manager will be hosting the interview process and hopes to secure the ideal candidate in a timely manner but can be flexible with regard to a start date if necessary.

As you will be required approximately 100 days per year, you will be welcome to take on other clients during your downtime and permitted to take on work within a reasonable proximity, including across the UK or within a short-haul flight. The exception to this agreement would be on occasions where you may be required to return to the estate in an emergency. These circumstances are highly unlikely due to the principal’s diary being planned 12+ months ahead due to his status. On such rare occasions, you would typically be given a week’s notice to return, but we must stress that this is historically almost unheard of.

Responsibilities

• Ordering
• Stocktakes and rotation
• Budgeting
• Managing your brigade of Chefs during the shoot season and visits by the Principal
• Menu planning
• Ensuring kitchens are run smoothly and left spotless and organised after each service
• Utilising the stock and produce available on the estate
• Assisting the grounds staff in creating and planning the kitchen garden on a seasonal basis
• Liaising with additional staff to ensure things are planned and executed with precision

Key requirements

• A background in catering for large numbers is essential
• Knowledge and experience in catering for shoots and the preparing and careful cooking of game
• A wide repertoire of British and European dishes to enable you to cater on a large scale without too much repetition during the Principal’s visits
• Supporting verifiable written references showing experience within similar positions
• Background check (to be completed ahead of employment)
• Longevity in previous positions preferred
• Experience managing a brigade
• A highly organised approach
• A calm and experienced management style