Kitchen Supervisor
What is the work like?
Kitchen supervisors (or managers) are usually experienced chefs with responsibility for leading a team of staff and efficiently running a kitchen.
As a supervisor, your duties would include:
- leading a team of kitchen staff (assistants, porters and junior chefs)
- planning a menu
- making sure food is of the right quality, price and produced on time
- managing stock
- ordering food from suppliers
- controlling a budget and keeping accurate records
- organising the staff duty rota.
You would organise and oversee the work produced, decide which tasks need to be done and share these among the team. Your role would also usually include:
- preparing and cooking food
- cleaning the kitchen area (in line with food hygiene, and health and safety laws).
You would also train, discipline, dismiss and recruit kitchen staff.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You will usually need experience of working in a kitchen and running your own section before you can become a kitchen supervisor. The main way to achieve this is by working your way up from kitchen assistant to trainee chef, then section chef and supervisor.
You will not usually need specific academic qualifications to start work as a kitchen assistant or trainee chef. However, many employers will expect you to have a good general standard of education, possibly including GCSEs in English and maths.
Another way to prepare for this work would be to take a course that combines classroom-based study with practical experience and work placements. Relevant qualifications include:
- Level 2 Diploma in Professional Cookery (awarded by ASET or City & Guilds)
- BTEC National Certificate/Diploma in Hospitality
- foundation degree, BTEC HNC/HND or degree in subjects such as culinary arts management, and hospitality management.
If you already have a degree-level qualification in an unrelated subject you can take a one-year BA (Hons) conversion course in, for example, Culinary Arts Management.
Alternatively, you may be able to get into kitchen work through an Apprenticeship scheme. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. For more information on Apprenticeships, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
What further training and development can I do?
You could help your career by working towards qualifications such as:
- NVQ Level 3 in Hospitality Supervision
- BTEC HNC in Hospitality Management
- City & Guilds Higher Professional Diploma in Hospitality and Catering
- Managing Food Safety in Catering, awarded by the RIPH, CIEH and RSPH professional bodies.
If your role as a supervisor also included the duties of a senior chef, you could work towards NVQ Level 2 in Food Processing and Cooking, or NVQ levels 2 or 3 in Professional Cookery.
Where can I go for more information?
2nd FloorArmstrong House
38 Market Square
Uxbridge
Middlesex
UB8 1LH
Tel: 0870 060 2550
http://www.uksp.co.uk/ (careers information)
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser at learndirect Careers Advice, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Kitchen supervisors can start on between £12,500 and £15,000 a year.
- With experience, this can rise to around £20,000.
- Head chefs with management responsibilities working in a top hotel may earn up to £50,000.
Figures are intended as a guideline only
What are the hours and working conditions?
Working in the kitchen would be hot and humid and, at key meal times, you would be working under pressure. You would wear an overall, apron and hat to protect your clothing and for hygiene reasons. For part of the day, you may work at a desk away from the kitchen generating menu ideas with the restaurant manager and placing orders with food suppliers.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- a creative interest in food and cookery
- the ability to work under pressure and make quick decisions
- high standards of cleanliness and hygiene
- the ability to organise and plan your own work and that of others
- strong communication skills
- leadership and management skills
- the ability to control a budget and work with figures
- stamina with the ability to cope with a hot and busy kitchen
- the ability to deal calmly with unexpected situations and crises.
What opportunities are there?
You will find jobs within hotels and restaurants, catering departments of local authorities, schools and colleges, the NHS and Armed Forces. This can include full- and part-time hours, as well as temporary and seasonal jobs, throughout the UK and overseas.
With experience, you could go on to manage larger kitchens and more staff, or set up your own business, running your own restaurant or franchise.
Jobs are advertised through the local and national press, Jobcentre Plus, in industry magazines such as Caterer & Hotelkeeper, and on websites like Caterer.com.
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