Executive Chef and Culinary Strategy Manager

Heathrow, England

This is a key time to be joining British Airways as we Build a Better BA. We take huge pride in our past – but we’re looking to the future as an airline that loves embracing the best of modern Britain. Our country’s creativity, diversity, style, wit and warmth are the same special qualities that make us who we are. If you’re made of the same qualities as us, you could soon be part of the next chapter of our story. Together as one team, we’re connecting Britain with the world and the world to Britain like no one else

Reporting to the Head of Hospitality and Product, the successful candidate will oversee the design, development and delivery of the culinary strategy within British Airways. Whilst constantly seeking out new ideas and trends, the Executive Chef will communicate the menu style, standards and specifications to various suppliers and caterers across the world, ensuring British Airways maintains and increases its leadership in this area. Key focal points are on signature moments and the increase of customer satisfaction. Responsible for ensuring that the British Airways offering is operationally and commercially viable within existing and future parameters whilst maintaining standards of high quality is key when overseeing the following: 

• Responsible for designing the end-to-end in-flight culinary strategy for each cabin profile from concept through to successful execution, ensuring alignment with the British Airways brand strategy, delivering premium experiences and bespoke, signature moments.
• To lead input and direction to station catering tenders and supplier selection for British Airways catering ensuring consideration of market-specific requirements, trends and future innovations.
• Responsible for approving the menu proposals, terminology and design briefs through the resources of both the base caterers and multi-station inbound caterers to ensure compliance to budgets and quality standards.
• Evaluate product quality performance worldwide regarding culinary experience delivery with detailed reports to management to build and drive consistent delivery as well as continued business improvement proposition.
• Drive the development of central sourcing and other supplier opportunities in all markets to improve product consistency and efficiency.
• Maintains relationships with key stakeholders especially with regards to coordination with Procurement and Head of Global Catering Operations.
• Leads the definition of the meal codes, special meal strategy, menu profiles and ancillary culinary design. Defines processes and standard procedures in collaboration with the Hospitality Design Manager.
• Works in close collaboration with Head of Global Catering Operations to ensure that the vision and strategy are aligned and communicated to the operational support teams, ensuring that detailed Chef Tables are conducted and approved.
• Utilizes customer, competitor and commercial data / insights trends to drive innovation and improve customer satisfaction scores.

Leading the culinary team at British Airways, coordinating with Base and Inbound caterers to ensure they are delivering to the contractual obligations in terms of product specifications, this role is ideal for Executive Chef's who wish to create and maintain a culinary strategy for a world-renowned airline, synonymous with British heritage. 

Our Corporate and Support roles come with big potential to make your mark on our business. The airline industry changes so fast that we’re constantly evolving and finding new ways to impress customers and get ahead of our competitors. If you’re an innovator and brave and bold thinker, you will be in your element at British Airways.

Your impact on British Airways will be rewarded with a competitive rewards package plus the opportunity to develop and progress your career in many directions.

Not only will you have the chance to further your career development within BA, you’ll have access to our competitive reward and benefits package. This includes core company paid benefits such as a Defined Contribution pension scheme, generous Life Assurance cover and a whole host of options to support your physical, mental and financial well-being. You can also sign up for a range of voluntary benefits such as Private Medical cover, Dental and Critical Illness cover, Technology Scheme, Cycle to Work and Electric Car Scheme. And of course, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefit of staff travel as soon as you join us

We are an equal opportunities employer and value diversity at British Airways. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, age, marital status, veteran status or disability status. This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the job and the general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this job. However, this job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position.

N.B. We reserve the right to close a vacancy before the closing date in the event of an overwhelming response or a change in business priorities