| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Restaurants and Food Service |
| Level | Entry level |
| Reports to | Head Chef |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | 2 to 5 years cooking on the tandoor |
Tandoor Cook job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Tandoor Cook
Department: Restaurants and Food Service
Reports to: Head Chef
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Tandoor Cook prepares tandoori breads and grills such as naan, roti, kebabs and tikka in the tandoor. They manage the marinades, skewering and the intense heat of the tandoor to cook to the right char and doneness. The role is a hot, skilled station specialist. A good Tandoor Cook turns out breads and kebabs to the right texture and char consistently, keeps up with a heavy rush, manages marinades and stock, and works safely around the tandoor heat.
Key responsibilities
- Prepare naan, roti, kulcha and other tandoori breads to standard.
- Marinate and skewer kebabs, tikka and grills for the tandoor.
- Cook breads and grills in the tandoor to the right char and doneness.
- Manage the tandoor heat and readiness through the service.
- Keep taste, texture and portion consistent from order to order.
- Prepare and store marinades and doughs for the day.
- Keep the tandoor station clean and fully food safe.
- Control ingredient use and wastage in the tandoor section.
- Work safely around the tandoor heat and open flame.
Requirements
- Certificate in cookery or hands on training
- Experience on the tandoor
- Food safety awareness
- 2 to 5 years cooking on the tandoor
KRAs and KPIs for a Tandoor Cook
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Bread and grill quality | Breads and kebabs cooked to the char and doneness standard |
| Consistency | Taste, texture and portion consistent across orders |
| Speed | Tandoor orders served fast during the rush |
| Marinade quality | Marinades prepared and stored fresh to standard |
| Hygiene | Tandoor station kept clean and food safe |
| Safety | Works safely around the tandoor with no incidents |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Tandoor, Skewers and hooks, Rolling and dough tools, Marination trays, Weighing scale.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Chef de Partie, Senior Tandoor Cook, Sous Chef
Interview questions for a Tandoor Cook
- How do you get a naan to the right texture and char?
- How do you marinate kebabs for good flavour and tenderness?
- How do you manage tandoor heat through a busy service?
- How do you keep breads and grills consistent across orders?
- How do you work safely around the tandoor?
- How do you store marinades and dough safely?
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What does a Tandoor Cook do?
A Tandoor Cook prepares tandoori breads and grills such as naan, roti, kebabs and tikka in the tandoor. They marinate and skewer, manage the intense tandoor heat, and cook to the right char and doneness. They keep the station clean and safe. Their job is consistent tandoori breads and grills, served fast.
What skills does a Tandoor Cook need?
You need tandoor bread making, kebab marination and skewering, heat management and consistency in char and texture. Working safely in high heat and food safety matter too. Employers value cooks who keep up with a heavy rush and hold the same quality order after order.
How do you become a Tandoor Cook?
Most learn hands on as a helper or commis under a senior tandoor cook, mastering the dough, marinades and the heat over a few years. A cookery certificate helps but tandoor experience matters most. Employers look for speed, consistent quality and safe, clean working.