Co-Head Chef Central Kitchen with Focus on Administration (80-100%)

About the job

Zurich Zoo is the most visited educational, cultural and leisure institution in Switzerland and, as a modern zoo, is committed to species conservation, nature conservation, education and research. Zoo Restaurants GmbH, a subsidiary of Zurich Zoo, focuses on service, quality and sustainability in its operations. In addition to two shops, we run a very dynamic and versatile gastronomy both inside and outside the zoo.

Zurich Zoo is calling! Conservation organisation. Habitat for 8,000 animals. Host. And employer on equal terms. Yours too?

For our central kitchen we are looking for a committed and strong leadership personality as:

Co-Head Chef Central Kitchen with Focus on Administration (80-100%)

Your Tasks

In this responsible role, you take on a central position between operational daily business, administration and staff management. About half of your activity is spent in the office, where planning, organisation, control and adherence to processes require utmost precision and structured work. At the same time, you stay close to the operation and support your team in production and, if necessary, at the serving stations. Depending on the shift and operational situation, you lead a team of around 3 to 10 employees and actively promote their professional development.

Your main tasks include:

• Organisation, coordination and participation in hot and cold production according to internal recipes
• Ensuring timely production and delivery for the Pantanal, Masoala restaurants and other external stations
• Responsibility and execution of internal and external orders as well as goods receipt
• Responsibility for inventories, stock management and goods flow
• Leadership and guidance of employees in production, office, dishwashing kitchen and at the counter
• Active participation in daily business in a rotating position during rest days and holiday absences
• Responsibility for service readiness during busy operating times
• Organisation and coordination of large events in collaboration with the front of house
• Promotion, coaching and further development of employees and apprentices
• Conducting personnel interviews, training sessions and internal meetings
• Support in offer and menu planning
• Implementation and control of hygiene and safety regulations according to HACCP guidelines
• Leading kitchen meetings and active participation in process optimisation
• Maintenance and further development of digital systems and relevant portals

What you bring:

• Completed professional training as a cook EFZ
• Completed further training at a hotel management school, as head chef with ED or as executive chef
• Several years of leadership experience, ideally as head chef in a leading role in a production kitchen
• Experience in community catering, system catering or in the area of Cook & Chill is an advantage
• Enjoyment in developing employees
• Organisational talent, sense of responsibility and high commitment
• Enjoyment in working with fresh products and large production volumes with consistently high quality
• Very good German skills, English skills are an advantage
• Very good user knowledge of common IT programmes, ordering platforms and recipe tools
• Enjoyment of digitalisation
• Driving licence category B is an advantage
• Team spirit, independence and reliability

We offer you:

You can expect an exciting and varied leadership role in a lively 365-day operation with a motivated and helpful team. Contemporary employment conditions and long-term prospects. A shift operation without hourly shifts, five weeks’ holiday, a free parking space and a zoo annual pass complete the interesting offer.

We look forward to your application. Applications will be collected until 30 October 2026. A first pre-selection will then take place. Selected candidates will be invited to a personal interview.