Sous Chef

About the role

The Partnership is the UK’s largest employee-owned business and home to our two well-loved retail brands - John Lewis & Partners and Waitrose & Partners, as well as expanding into new areas beyond retail. We are Partners, with a shared responsibility for our success, and we share the rewards when we’re successful. Everything we do is powered by our unique purpose: Working in Partnership for a happier world.
This role is a key part of the Kitchen team at The Odney Club. You will be assisting the Head Chef to plan, produce and deliver our food offer, taking responsibility for the kitchen and the team in their absence. You'll add value to the efficient and profitable running of the kitchen in order to achieve the business and personal objectives, along with those of your team and the club.

If you join us from 5th October, in addition to your contractual pay, any time worked between 22:00 - 06:00 will attract Night Premium at a rate of £4.00 per hour. This will also apply to existing Partners who have enrolled onto Enhanced Hours Premium arrangements.

Salary - £48,000

Contract type - This position is a Fixed Term contract. (6months)

Working pattern - This is an on-site role at The Odney Club. Your working pattern will involve a variety of shifts across the week, including evenings and weekends, to support our members and guests.

Location - This role is based at The Odney Club, Cookham, Berkshire.

Key responsibilities

• Assist the Head Chef to plan, produce, and deliver the club’s food offer to agreed presentation standards.

• Lead the kitchen team in the Head Chef's absence, ensuring compliance with Food Safety and all Partnership procedures.

• Train and develop chefs and kitchen porters in all aspects of food preparation, using your knowledge and expertise.

• Achieve profit and GP targets by controlling food and pay costs and managing effective rotas.

• Meet all legislative requirements for the catering environment, including allergens.

• Maintain high standards of hygiene and safety, performing daily compliance checks and upholding records.

• Collaborate with other hotel departments to ensure a seamless and outstanding customer experience.
   

Essential skills/experience you’ll need

• Food Safety level 3 qualification.

• Relevant professional chef qualifications: City & Guilds diplomas in professional cookery, BTEC HNC in professional cookery or equivalent.

• Proven experience leading a team in a commercial kitchen environment.

• Comfortable delivering high-quality results in a fast-paced environment while upholding exceptional hygiene and safety standards.

• Confident decision-making skills and the ability to build sound financial platforms.

• An ability to foster mutual trust and respect within the team, creating an environment where all members feel valued.

Desirable skills/experience you may have

• A skilled influencer, motivator, and coach.

The Partnership

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.  

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.   

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect. 

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective. 

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.  

Important points to note:  

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.  

We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants.  

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.