Sous Chef

Our mission at Novotel Birmingham Airport is to create memorable moments for our guests, by connecting hearts from arrival to farewell.

A job, a career or a calling - whatever brings you here, we have something for you!

As part of our team you can have:

• Free night stays in our UK hotels and 30% discount in any Accor Restaurant (T&C Applies)
• Discounted hotel rates all over the world in Accor Hotels
• Continuously learn and develop yourself with our Accor Academy
• Support your wellbeing in your professional and personal lives
• Grow your experience anywhere. Explore limitless opportunities across 5000 hotels in over 100 countries
• Participate actively in initiatives to build a more inclusive and sustainable world
• And many more benefits and perks : Our objective is simple: make you grow and give you the spark to unleash your personality

Along with the Head Chef manages and motivates the kitchen staff in order to offer a high standard of service to guests, is responsible for food hygiene, safety and quality in the hotel, guaranteeing a high standard of culinary services offered to guests in our cluster operation of 2 restaurants - Novotel & Ibis - Birmingham Airport.

Duties

• Hands on management of the restaurant, room service, and conference food service operations on a day to day basis.
• Meet and where possible exceed customer and guest expectations, enabling the Food & Beverage operation of the hotel to be recognised as purveying consistent, quality and value for money cuisine.
• Ensure food standards, preparation, presentation and cooking techniques meet Brand Standard guidelines and are maintained at that level. Work with the kitchen brigade and take corrective action where appropriate if standards are not met.
• Strive continually for innovative, quality, value for money food which is presented and served in the most complimentary way.
• Ensure the highest possible standard of hygiene is practiced and maintained by the entire Kitchen brigade to meet Health & Safety regulations and HACCP food preparation guidelines.
• Cultivate a positive work environment where learning and personal development are benchmarks by which quality improvement is driven.
• Work closely with the Restaurant and Bar Manager / Supervisors and the Conference Sales Manager / Conference Coordinators to meet food and beverage operational objectives.
• Co-ordination of the stewarding team to meet the kitchen’s requirements.
• Adherence to Emergency Communication procedures ensuring that enquiries from the media are only responded to by the nominated spokesperson
• Strive to implement the Accor Vision and demonstrate active use of Accor Values.
• Ensures the kitchen has a presence in operational meetings and committees
• Any other duties assigned by your manager.

Financial responsibilities / duties

• Maintain food costs at budgeted levels by careful preparation, service and storage of food product.
• Coordinate daily food requirements with purchasing with consideration for delivery times, shelf life and storage capabilities.
• Assist in the development of the Annual Business Plan and Financial Budget, use this as a guide to controlling expenditure during the financial year.
• Facilitate the smooth running of the department through adequate supply of materials and equipment.
• Adhere to the department budget through the Purchase Order System and inventory controls.
• Be pro-active in controlling costs being fully aware of forecasted business and targeted profitability whilst maintaining standards.

People & Culture responsibilities

• Assist the Kitchen Management Team in the following:
• Establish on-going On Job Training Programs within the department to meet Brand and Service Standards.  Use Department Procedure Manuals as a base for all service procedures training.
• Induct new staff into the team, department and Hotel in the first week of their employment following guidelines. Ensure that all staff under your control carry out their duties in accordance with the Brand and Service Standards and Procedures Manuals.
• Effectively use the guest feedback to improve product and service delivery.
• Openly communicate with staff ensuring daily operational demands are met

Health & Safety

• Notify you Manager of any reason you may not be capable of performing your tasks safely.
• Participate in workplace consultation on matters pertaining to Occupational Health and Safety, as per the hotels agreed arrangements.
• Comply with safe work practices by following Accor Health, Safety and Environment policies, including the use of safe manual handling techniques, safe use of hazardous chemicals and machinery, working at heights procedures, using protective clothing and safety equipment where available and necessary, maintaining a clean, tidy work environment, and any other safety practice promoted and required by the Hotel.
• Attend and actively participate in all OH&S training required of you by the Hotel.
• Report any health or safety hazards, incidents and injuries to your Manager/Supervisor or Manager on Duty as soon as possible.  Hazards may include unsafe working conditions, equipment and machinery faults or damage, and other housekeeping or maintenance needs that may affect the safety or any person/s at the Hotel. Ensure that the appropriate documentation is completed correctly, such as the Injury / Incident Form.
• Participate and contribute to the risk assessment process when requested by your Supervisor/Manager.
• Work cohesively in conjunction with the hotel’s rehabilitation program, as required.
• Maintain standards of hygiene for food handling and presentation as prescribed by council / legislative regulations.
• Be fully conversant with departmental fire and evacuation procedures..
• Ensure all equipment is kept in good working order and used only for the purpose for which it was intended. Report all broken or damaged departmental equipment to your Supervisor and record on appropriate maintenance report form.
• Contribute to cost control through energy conservation, correct storage of all materials and use of equipment per operating standards and manufacturers specifications.

Systems & Procedures

• Log and inform your Manager of any system problems. Suggest any improvements that could be made to improve existing systems and procedures.
• Follow policies and procedures outlined in the Accor Brand Standards Manual, Departmental Service Standards / Procedures Manual and Accor Policy Manuals.
• Complete all duties, and ensure a concise hand over.

Customer Relations

• Provide efficient, friendly and professional service to all guests.
• Lead by example when attending to guest requests.  Show efficiency in constantly striving to provide Total Customer Satisfaction.
• Take initiative to ensure that interactions with our customers (internal or external) are positive and productive, call the Manager on Duty if difficulties arise.
• Work together with trust so that colleagues and management meet the goals of the department/Hotel.
• Treat customers and colleagues from all cultural groups with respect, sensitivity and transparency.
• Take every opportunity to be a “salesperson” by active selling of special promotions and facilities available within the Hotel.
• Implement the Accor values and Accor customer vision to ‘Offer the Best Service to Our Customers’.

Other

• Take responsibility to ensure all required tasks are completed accurately and within given time frames.
• Participate in scheduled training and development programs provided by the Hotel to improve self and department standards and attend departmental meetings as required.
• Abide by Accor policy on EEO and Harassment in the workplace.
• Ensure wherever possible that employees are provided with a work place free of discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
• Follow property procedures with respect to grooming, performance and conduct standards, occupational health and safety, emergency procedures and all other property policies and procedures as detailed in the employee handbook / department procedure manuals / company policy manuals.
• Ensure Hotel, Customer and Staff information or transactions are kept confidential during or after employment with the company. 
• Any other reasonable request within your range of competence as required by your Supervisor or Hotel Management.

• A minimum of 3-5 years experience in this role or a similar role
• Previous experience managing a team or a cluster operation
• Flexible, as variations in business may require some additional working at the end of a shift

Please submit a letter of application along with your CV. Salary £32,326 plus a variable monthly service charge.