# Competences — head chef

Source: ESCO v1.2.1 occupation-skill relations (http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/01484951-15e6-4b88-a20f-1201868d36a0).

## Essential

- **assist customers** (skill/competence)
- **compile cooking recipes** (skill/competence)
- **comply with food safety and hygiene** (skill/competence)
- **control of expenses** (skill/competence)
- **develop food waste reduction strategies** (skill/competence)
- **ensure maintenance of kitchen equipment** (skill/competence)
- **estimate costs of required supplies** (skill/competence)
- **food storage** (knowledge)
- **food waste monitoring systems** (knowledge)
- **handle customer complaints** (skill/competence)
- **handover the food preparation area** (skill/competence)
- **keep up with eating out trends** (skill/competence)
- **maintain a safe, hygienic and secure working environment** (skill/competence)
- **manage budgets** (skill/competence)
- **manage hospitality revenue** (skill/competence)
- **manage staff** (skill/competence)
- **manage stock rotation** (skill/competence)
- **monitor the use of kitchen equipment** (skill/competence)
- **perform procurement processes** (skill/competence)
- **plan menus** (skill/competence)
- **plan shifts of employees** (skill/competence)
- **recruit employees** (skill/competence)
- **set prices of menu items** (skill/competence)
- **supervise food quality** (skill/competence)
- **train employees** (skill/competence)
- **train staff to reduce food waste** (skill/competence)
- **types of whisks** (knowledge)
- **use cooking techniques** (skill/competence)
- **use culinary finishing techniques** (skill/competence)
- **use food preparation techniques** (skill/competence)
- **use reheating techniques** (skill/competence)
- **use resource-efficient technologies in hospitality** (skill/competence)

## Optional

- advise guests on menus for special events (skill/competence)
- attend to detail regarding food and beverages (skill/competence)
- check deliveries on receipt (skill/competence)
- conduct research on food waste prevention (skill/competence)
- cook pastry products (skill/competence)
- create decorative food displays (skill/competence)
- design indicators for food waste reduction (skill/competence)
- execute chilling processes to food products (skill/competence)
- forecast future levels of business (skill/competence)
- handle chemical cleaning agents (skill/competence)
- identify suppliers (skill/competence)
- manage contract disputes (skill/competence)
- manage inspections of equipment (skill/competence)
- manage medium term objectives (skill/competence)
- molecular gastronomy (knowledge)
- negotiate supplier arrangements (skill/competence)
- plan medium to long term objectives (skill/competence)
- prepare flambeed dishes (skill/competence)
- think creatively about food and beverages (skill/competence)
- upsell products (skill/competence)

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## Market evidence (job-ad analysis, 52 ads, as of 2026-07-12)

Share of analyzed job ads mentioning the item (threshold ≥ 20 %). Source: JSearch/Adzuna APIs.

### Hard skills

- inventory management — **50 %**
- menu development — **44 %**
- kitchen management — **31 %**
- food preparation — **25 %**

### Responsibilities

- kitchen operation oversight — **21 %**

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