UK Ministry of Defence
Army - Chef Instructor
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Worthy Down, Winchester, SO21 2RG
There may be the opportunity for home working after training has been completed and when courses are not running, the majority of your hours will be worked on site.
Job Summary
The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, the Army Top Level Budget (TLB) employs around 7,000 MOD Civil Servants located at over 300 locations. Ours is a diverse workforce, with roles ranging from trainers, human resources, teachers, and psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff.
The Defence School of Logistics and Administration (DSLA), one of three schools in the Defence College of Support (DCSp) delivers training to all Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force service personnel in Supply, Distribution, Catering, and Personnel Administration. We are predominantly based at Worthy Down - a recently built, modern campus in Winchester with lots of amenities, making it a great place to work!
This role sits within the Catering Training Wing (CTW), providing training for our Military Chefs. For a taste of what a Chef Instructor in CTW could get up to, please watch this video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Db-ZNPOsEI_/?igsh=MWNyMTNtb3liZjkweQ==
The position is advertised at 37 hours per week and requires regular attendance at the advertised location.
Job Description
The Chef Instructor role offers an exciting opportunity to work in a fast-paced Tri-Service training environment that is vital to training the next generation of Military Chefs, giving you the perfect opportunity to pass on your cookery knowledge and skills.
The position is advertised at 37 hours per week. While there may be the opportunity for home working after training has been completed and when courses are not running, the majority of your hours will be worked on site.
This role comes with opportunities to conduct Continuous Professional Development (CPD) alongside Military Instructors.
Key Responsibilities:
- Conducting practical lessons, demonstrations, and lectures both on camp (DSLA) and in outdoors practical training environments.
- Delivering instructions and guidance in accordance with the published course training documents.
- Evaluating and amending lesson plans to ensure they remain relevant and engaging.
- Carrying out assessments and providing feedback, both orally in writing.
- Evaluating equipment and recipes required for the courses.
- Complying with responsibilities in respect of Food Services and wider Defence Policy.
- Carrying out invigilator duties for both internal and external examinations.
Person specification
Whether you’re an experienced Chef looking for a better work-life balance, or a recently qualified Chef ready to take the next steps in your career, this role could be the opportunity you have been looking for!
We’re seeking a passionate Chef Instructor to help develop the next generation of Military Chefs. This is a rewarding role where you’ll combine your culinary expertise with instructing, coaching, and mentoring to share your knowledge in a busy and supportive Tri-Service training environment.
You’ll work with trainees from a range of backgrounds, helping them build the skills, confidence, and professional standards needed to succeed as Military Chefs. We’re looking for someone who is enthusiastic, organised, and able to communicate effectively with others.
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You do not need previous teaching experience. If you have strong culinary skills, a passion for developing people and a willingness to learn, we’ll support you in becoming a successful Chef Instructor.
Essential Skills Required:
- Experience in professional kitchens or City & Guilds GNVQ Level 3 or equivalent in Culinary/Chef skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication and organisational skills.
- A passion for supporting and developing others.
- Confident using Microsoft Applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Desirable Skills/experience:
It is advantageous if you have teaching qualification (Certificate of Education or equivalent) and experience, but it is not essential, as upon starting you will complete a 2-week teaching course off-site.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Developing Self and Others
- Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Developing Self and Others
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
At interview you will be required to demonstrate how to fillet a flat fish and various cuts of vegetables as if you were teaching a class of novice chefs. The rations and all equipment including knives etc will be provided.
Salary and Benefits
Alongside your salary of £30,740, Ministry of Defence contributes £8,905 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides here.
The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.
Other Benefits For Army Civil Servants Include:
- 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
- Pension contribution: 28.97%
- Personal and professional development of skills
- Alternative working patterns for many roles
- Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
- Enhanced parental and adoption leave
- 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
- Learning and Development
Additional benefits of working at Worthy Down are;
- Use of on-site gym and sports facilities, and the opportunity to participate in site physical training activities and events (subject to insurance)
- Access to a variety of coffee shops and food outlets
- Free on-site parking
We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking a modern apprenticeship as part of your role.
A modern apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through the schemes available you will gain a professional qualification, practical experience, and the broader skills required to develop in your current role and pave the way for your future career.
The post does not offer relocation expenses.
External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
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Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility here.
The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.
MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
At the application stage, you will be assessed against the following criteria, listed in priority order:
- Personal Statement - 500 worded statement aligned to the Person Specification.
- CV
- Behaviour - Developing Self & Others
Where a large number of applications are received, an initial sift may be conducted against the Communicating & Influencing only. The remaining evidence submitted at the application stage will be assessed only if you are successful at this initial sift.
At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following criteria, listed in
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