Cafe jobs in Derby DE3

Something exciting is coming to Markeaton Park, and you could be part of it! The Orangery Café, which is nestled in the heart of the park, is entering a new chapter this December. With community spirit, hearty and high-quality food & drink and excellent service at the heart of our vision, we plan to bring a new lease of ‘Life’ to this historic venue.

What really makes us special? Our people. They’re the heart and soul of what we do - passionate, friendly, and totally committed to making every visit one to remember, whether that’s through flavourful food, commendable coffee, or a warm welcome that brightens someone’s day.

Pursue a career with us, where progression opportunities, social working hours and an inspiring working environment with beautiful surroundings await! We’re seeking a skilled Kitchen Lead to join our team, who shares our passion for consistently high-quality food and unique hospitality experiences.

As the Kitchen Lead you will:

• Work collaboratively with the General Manager, Assistant Manager and Café Supervisors to ensure the seamless and efficient day-to-day running of the kitchen.
• Lead and support a small team of Kitchen Assistants/Cooks through the coordination and deployment of labour and delegation of tasks while actively contributing to the operation of the kitchen.
• Work proactively with the Café Management team to plan and manage food preparation in advance of busy service periods, ensuring readiness and consistency.
• Oversee kitchen, safety and compliance standards, working with the team to maintain a safe, clean and legally compliant environment.
• Take the lead on the pass during peak service times, ensuring seamless communication and harmonious collaboration between kitchen and the front of house team to deliver minimal food wait times.
• Collaborate with the wider Café Management team on effective stock management and ordering of ingredients.
• Have the willingness to be involved and engage in the development of the café’s food offering by working in collaboration with on-site management and senior management to bring new dish ideas and concepts to fruition.
• Demonstrate a passion for food, consistently delivering freshly prepared, crowd-pleasing dishes to a high standard.
• Assist with catering and special functions when required - contributing to setup, service, and breakdown.

About you:

• Already have proven extensive knowledge of stock control, food hygiene and health & safety and leading a kitchen in all of these areas.
• Have good experience of working within a high-volume and quick service kitchen environment and enabling the wider kitchen team to manage the pace.
• Have a positive and enthusiastic attitude, with strong leadership qualities.
• Possess strong knowledge of working with fresh, local produce.
• Have excellent attention to detail and organisational skills.
• You will be positive, energetic and professional and willing to go above and beyond to ensure our customers receive consistently outstanding food, drink and service.
• You will be inspired and motivated by our company values and ambitions for the café, while being a supportive team member to help to create an enjoyable place to work and visit.

What can we offer?

• Real progression opportunities – We have a focus on promoting from within. You bring the passion; we bring the promotion! There are plenty of opportunities to progress and work in sites across the country.
• Development and mentoring programme – Receive 1-2-1 support from established team members within the company. We will also provide practical and theoretical training, such as Level 2/3 Food Hygiene, Allergen Awareness, First Aid and more.
• Food and drink – Enjoy complimentary Life Café Coffee and freshly made food while on shift
• You’re amongst friends – We always aim to foster a positive and supportive team environment, where everyone feels welcome, accepted and appreciated.

Life Cafés are an equal opportunities employer. Applications from all backgrounds are welcome and encouraged.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: From £14.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Discounted or free food
• Employee discount
• Store discount

Experience:

• kitchen: 2 years (required)

Licence/Certification:

• Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate (preferred)

Work Location: In person