Our Client is a multi- national food logistics and facilities provider. Founded in 1957 its headquarters are in Europe and are renowned as a market leader and an innovative distributor of wholesale food products and food logistics concepts. They are experts in the handling of customs procedures, cross border transactions and dealing with local cultures, languages and bureaucracy.

They distribute food products across all temperature spans including fresh produce and also deliver soft drinks and bottled water. They have sites in Europe, Africa, Middle East and Near Asia, a fleet of 40 foot multi : temperature trucks and vans delivering to sites on a daily basis, many of which are difficult to reach or in dangerous areas!

Over the years the business has developed from food logistics to include the provision of complex service solutions. They now provide catering operations- both military feeding and commercial catering, they operate bakeries, coffee shops, hairdressing and beautician salons and PX / Duty Free retail stores which sell groceries, electrical and other duty free items etc. They also have a Site Services Division which provides construction of buildings and offices, general facilities management, fuel management, vehicle and plant maintenance services.

Our client has won a major new contract and requires an experienced Catering Manager who has experience of mediterranean cuisine to be based at a new camp in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

The role:

Reporting into a Catering Services Manager, this is a senior Catering Manager role, broad in scope, overseeing the management of a busy kitchen unit whose customers are Armed Forces personnel and civilian personnel of Countries who are supporting the peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan.

The key objectives are:
§ Responsible for all aspects of the catering operations of the unit, according to our client?s client contract specification and within standard operating procedures laid down by our client
§ Responsible for maintaining the food budget within agreed targets
§ Responsible for effectively managing all staff employed within the unit

As in any successful management position, the development and motivation of the team around you is essential.
________________________________________________________________________

Knowledge and Skills:

You should be an energetic English speaking Catering Manager and accomplished Chef, highly self motivated with the ability to communicate and motivate a varied team. You should have chef/catering experience at Catering Manager level and you must have experience of preparing and cooking mediterranean cuisine ideally gained in a country which borders the Mediterranean.

Experience of working in contracted catering services, in a military environment or for a leading international facilities management provider would be ideal, as would experience of working in post conflict areas, remote sites, on oil rigs or in other arduous environments.

You will have an excellent understanding of commercial catering operations and specifically a high degree of knowledge on food hygiene including HACCP, food handling and food presentation concepts and knowledge of popular catering and bakery products.

Superb communication skills and instant credibility are essential as you will be inter-facing with a number of people from different backgrounds, nationalities and religions.

You should possess excellent communication skills in English and ideally one other language and be able to adapt to rapid changes in a positive manner and work to tight deadlines.

You will be resourceful with a flexible outlook, have the ability to multi-task in order to handle competing priorities and be able to fit in to an international dynamic and multi-cultural environment.

Finally you should possess a Drivers Licence and be IT / PC literate.

This is an outstanding challenge for an accomplished Catering Manager looking for something different.

Whilst our Client?s operation is somewhat unique they are in it for the long term. Accordingly they seek a career minded Catering Manager and are looking for a minimum of 12 - 18 month?s commitment.

The basic salary is paid in Euros and is tax free. In addition there is a bonus payable after 12 month?s service which is paid annually and is also paid in Euros and tax free. Accommodation, laundry services, local transportation and meals are provided free. In addition there is a telephone allowance payable of 30 US Dollars per month and health insurance plan.

You will receive 63 days annual leave per year and the working rota is:

14 weeks on - 3.5 weeks off
14 weeks on - 3.5 weeks off
13.5 weeks on : 3.5 weeks off

You will be entitled to 3 paid return economy flights per year.