Head of Food and Production Kitchen

Braehead Foods have a new and exciting role for a Head of Food and Production Kitchen working out of our Kilmarnock factory.

Head of Food & Production Kitchen is a key role within the senior management team. The role has overall responsibility for driving food quality, standards, consistency and innovation of our product portfolio. If you think you have the required skills to carry out this role we would love to hear from you.

Responsibilities:

• Manage and drive the Production Kitchen team to deliver operational targets.
• Drive efficiencies of labour and raw material to maximise product profitability.
• Custodian of Apic Base recipe management system, ensuring data is maintained to provide accurate information to internal and external customers.
• Manage the planning of raw materials and labour to ensure maximum order fulfilment.
• Develop and manage a robust quality control system to ensure products meet product specification and customer expectations.
• Develop and manage a training matrix for the kitchen team to enhance technical skills and improve staff development and retention.
• Liaise with key customer accounts, in conjunction with commercial team, to drive sales.
• Drive the review of product portfolio, ensuring products are fit for purpose, commercially viable and suggest changes and improvements to BHF board.
• Manage the integration of new products across all areas of the business, including finance, marketing, sales, technical, production and packaging.
• Responsibility for the training, development, discipline and appraisals of the team, in conjunction with HR.
• Comply with food safety, hygiene, allergen and HACCP procedures and methodology to ensure the department operates safely and meets audit standards.
• Analyse production statistics to aid efficiency, productivity, waste reduction and customer satisfaction.
• Manage problems or product complaints, ensuring a learning process is in place to ensure consistency of product.
• Manage the product portfolio, in conjunction with the sales team strategy
• Manage and participate in Production Kitchen budget process.
• Oversee and implement the inventory, distribution of goods and facility layout maximise productivity.
• Manage and drive SOPs for the department.
• Collaborate with internal colleagues, suppliers and customers to create commercially viable products that make an impact in the marketplace

Essential Criteria:

• 5+ years’ experience working as Head/Executive/Development Chef
• Experience managing a large, team
• Proficient in all Microsoft packages.
• Ability to be self-motivated and work under the pressure of deadlines with a flexible approach.
• A passion for innovation and current trends in the industry.
• Excellent communicator.

Desirable Criteria:

• Previous experience in developing food concept ideas.
• Experience or qualification in training and assessing staff.
• HACCP accreditation desirable although will be trained if not already held.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £55,000.00-£60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Additional leave
• Employee discount
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Private medical insurance
• Store discount
• Wellness programme

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Supplemental pay types:

• Performance bonus

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Kilmarnock: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Work Location: In person