Catering Manager

Start Date: August 2024

This is a fantastic opportunity to live and work in the Scottish Highlands and be part of a Christian Community providing excellent hospitality.

Mealtimes were key moments for Jesus as he ministered on earth – we aspire to create meaningful mealtimes that enhance the Abernethy experience!

As Catering Manager, you will oversee all aspects the preparation of delicious home-cooked meals and baking for our guests and staff, you will develop and lead our kitchen team, and be part of the Centre leadership team.  As a Christian, you will be a role-model for the kitchen team and wider Centre staff, having a discipling and mentoring input into their lives.

You will have the opportunity to get involved in the wider ministry of the Centre, including our evening sessions with kids, and ministry teams serving on one of our events weeks and weekends (e.g. playing music, organising games / sport, etc).

WHO WE ARE

Founded in 1971, Abernethy is a ministry that combines outdoor activity, residential experience and Christian team witness.  Our vision is: ‘Seeing Lives Transformed’. 

The team as Abernethy are Christians, and together our mission is:

• Through the outdoors we provide challenge and adventure
• Through community we create belonging and see growth
• Through hospitality we nurture wellbeing
• Through witness we provoke curiosity
• In all things, we live the life to which Jesus has called us

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for a committed Christian, with a heart for service, evangelism and Christian discipleship, who is passionate about great home cooking and excellent hospitality.  You will oversee the delivery of an excellent catering service for our guests and staff: providing high quality food, a well-organised kitchen, maintaining high standards of food hygiene and safety and building a team that works well together and has fun.

To achieve this, you will have a passion for hospitality, an eye for detail and a warm, friendly and collaborative approach.  You will be great at organising and planning, be adaptable in the face of changing plans and a good problem solver, work in a calm and efficient manner under pressure to set deadlines, enjoy working in an active and fast paced job, and be willing to be flexible and go the extra mile.

You will be committed to training and helping our Gap Year team learn new skills in the kitchen.  You will have a heart to get alongside all your team members, helping to disciple them in their Christian faith and making their time at Abernethy a life-changing experience.

KEY ROLES

• Lead, train, motivate and mentor our kitchen team, Gap Year team and volunteers.
• Manage the catering budget ensuring an efficient and cost-effective provision.
• Plan weekly menus appropriate to the guests, and order food within the confines of the budget.
• Plan team shift patterns around the needs of our guests and staff.
• Ensure a high standard of safety, cleanliness, food hygiene and accurate record keeping in accordance with our Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system and current legislation. 
• Ensure dietary requirements are properly catered for and that food labelling and communication regarding allergens is accurate at all times.
• Ensure high standards of friendly service and customer care within the team.
• Fully contribute to the spiritual life and ministry of the Centre.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• A mature and growing Christian faith
• A minimum 3 years of relevant work experience
• Experience of managing budgets
• Hold an Intermediate Food Hygiene Certificate and have worked in a commercial kitchen with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) procedures
• Are motivated, enthusiastic and demonstrate initiative 
• Have good Word, Excel and Outlook IT skills 

WE WOULD ALSO LOVE YOU TO HAVE

• Previous experience in menu design and development
• Previous experience catering for young people

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• Monthly salary
• Full-board single accommodation provided, if required
• Paid annual leave (30 days per annum, inclusive of bank holidays)
• Use of Centre facilities including outdoor equipment.
• Opportunities to take an active role within the life of our local church and Christian youth work
• Living as part of a vibrant Christian community in a beautiful part of Scotland
• Opportunity for personal training and development
• Weekly Team Fellowship on a Wednesday evening
• Very favourable rates for family on most Abernethy holidays and camps
• Participation in our annual 3-day Team Gathering
• Easy access to the local area including the Cairngorm mountains, river Spey and the Moray coast – a fantastic outdoor playground!

INTERESTED?

Please prayerfully consider whether this role may be right for you. For an informal chat about the role please contact the Centre Director, Stu Newland, on 01479 818004 during office hours.  If you feel you are the person we are looking for, please complete the on-line application form.

For further information call 01479 818 005, please leave a voicemail if we are unable to answer.