Chef De Partie

Salary: £27,886 per year

Chef de Partie

Chester Zoo is a conservation zoo on a bold mission to prevent extinction. We are UK’s most popular zoo and as well as winning lots of awards, we welcome 2 million visitors a year through our gates.

We focus on delivering memorable experiences for all our visitors and a key focus for this is our hospitality venues, which are so much more than you’d expect.

We now have an exciting opportunity supporting the Sous Chef in our kitchens across our range of hospitality venues, including our award winning Gastro-pub, ‘The Oakfield’, and our stunning new event venue ‘The Square’, coming in 2023.

With our ambitious plans for next year, there couldn’t be a more exciting time to join us. As our new venue gets closer to opening, you’ll have the opportunity to develop as our team grows and make your mark from day one.

All of our kitchens are led by our sustainable values. We work hard to source high quality, local and seasonal produce, are making progress towards zero waste kitchens by 2030. We also partner with our suppliers to ensure only ethically sourced palm oil enters our kitchens.

Our venues, all held within our 128 acre site of stunning gardens, will jointly operate a turnover of £12.5 million. As a not for profit, everything we make is ploughed into conservation both here in the UK and around the world. Your role has a huge part to play in delivering our mission.

The Role – Chef de Partie

Food and Beverage at the zoo includes, The Oakfield, Chester Zoo’s award-winning Gastro-pub venue and our new event venue ‘The Square’ as well as three other restaurants, cafes, and coffee houses. You will support the Lead Chef in making sure the department is driving a fresh, quality ingredients culture whilst meeting our sustainable values and helping achieve continual revenue growth.

You will:

• Support the Lead Chef and Sous Chef in helping to produce food to the highest standards which ensures Chester Zoo maintains its world class reputation
• Train and mentor Line Chefs and Seasonal team members to ensure effective and efficient work practice
• Work collaboratively with the front of house team to ensure seamless delivery and a world class customer service
• Adhere to health and hygiene policies, standard operating procedures and safe working practices including food safety systems and associated legislation (for example HACCP)
• Under direction from the Lead Chef, ensure correct stock levels on a day-to-day basis, place order requests for the Lead Chef or Sous Chef to process and accept deliveries, ensuring they are correct and rotate stock as required

The Package – Chef de Partie

You’ll be working a variety of shifts, across our core zoo opening hours as well as early mornings and evenings for events as required. You’ll work 40 hours per week, 5 days out of 7, and will be paid overtime for all agreed additional hours above this.

• Permanent contract
• £27,885.6 per annum based on 40 hours
• 33 days annual leave plus the option to buy or sell up to 5 days
• Staff pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off plus multiple complimentary tickets for your friends and family
• Cycle to work scheme
• Healthcare plan and employee assistance programme
• Discounted gym membership
• Discounts on cinema tickets, restaurants, high street shops and more via Perks
• Pension scheme with generous employer contributions up to 9%
• Excellent training and career progression opportunities

Our Requirements

• Previous chef experience, preferably gained in a leading British Gastro-pub
• Able to demonstrate understanding of food types and production methods
• Level 2 Food Safety qualification
• A ‘can do’ and flexible attitude to work
• Good communication skills

Although not essential, the following would be desirable

• Customer service experience

More about working for us

We celebrate diversity and we’re building a workplace where everyone belongs, and everyone is included. We place utmost trust in all our employees and give you the encouragement to do great work. 

We expect a can-do attitude, but we don’t expect you to do it alone – you’ll be supported every step of the way. You’ll be given the tools you need to do your job well, and you’ll be offered further learning in areas there’s a gap.

As an international conservation charity, we’re focused on continuing to make a difference in conservation. 

We are Chester Zoo, and together we are creating a future where nature can survive and thrive.

How To Apply

To apply for this position, please click the ‘apply’ button on this page where you’ll be redirected to the vacancy on the Chester Zoo website. You will then be required to provide your current CV and complete the application form highlighting your skills and experience including why you believe you should be considered for this Chef de Partie role.