Head Chef

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced and professional Head Chef to join Baxterstorey in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom. As Head Chef, you will lead our culinary operations, overseeing food preparation, kitchen staff, and the delivery of exceptional dining experiences. You will be responsible for maintaining the highest standards of food quality, safety, and presentation whilst managing kitchen budgets and driving innovation in menu development. This is a permanent position offering the opportunity to showcase your culinary expertise and leadership capabilities within a dynamic contract catering environment.

• Lead and manage the kitchen team, providing clear direction, mentoring, and performance feedback to ensure operational excellence • Plan, develop, and execute diverse menus that meet client requirements, dietary specifications, and seasonal availability • Oversee all food preparation, cooking, and plating to ensure consistency, quality, and adherence to established standards
• Maintain rigorous food safety, hygiene, and health and safety compliance across all kitchen operations • Manage kitchen budgets, control food costs, and optimise supplier relationships to achieve financial targets • Conduct regular staff training and induction programmes to develop culinary skills and maintain team competency • Monitor inventory levels, manage stock rotation, and minimise food waste through efficient resource management
• Collaborate with management and clients to understand requirements and deliver tailored catering solutions • Conduct quality assurance checks and implement continuous improvement initiatives within the kitchen • Ensure all equipment is maintained to the highest standard and report maintenance issues promptly • Respond decisively to operational challenges and adapt menus or processes to meet changing client needs

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Head Chef or Senior Chef in a contract catering or large-scale food production environment • Advanced culinary knowledge and expertise in a range of cooking techniques and cuisines • Demonstrated leadership experience managing kitchen teams of varying sizes • Comprehensive understanding of food safety regulations, HACCP principles, and health and safety legislation
• Strong organisational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities • Proficiency in menu planning, recipe development, and cost analysis • Excellent people skills and the ability to communicate effectively with staff, clients, and suppliers • Detail-oriented approach to quality control and food presentation standards
• Experience managing kitchen budgets and controlling food costs • Knowledge of dietary requirements and allergen management • Desirable: Experience with contract catering operations and diverse client bases • Desirable: Familiarity with kitchen management systems and inventory control software • Desirable: Experience in staff scheduling and rostering

Additional Information

For almost 20 years, for every client, in every location (whether that’s an office, stadium, cathedral or university), we have created beautiful spaces, exciting menus and friendly teams, so that each and every customer can have the hospitality experience they deserve.

We need the brightest and the best to join us to make this all possible. We will support you to create your hospitality legacy and build a career that you are proud of.

Our drive and belief in our people, means that we always strive to supercharge our team’s careers. ‘Better’ is a daily habit that sits deep within our DNA, meaning learning will be front and centre of your experience working with us.

Join us, and be part of the food revolution!

BaxterStorey Values:

ALWAYS VISIONARY

We strive for better, we never settle, never compromise, never follow. We lead the way, blazing our own trail.

WHOLEHEARTEDLY POSITIVE

We are up-beat, motivating and inspiring. Our love for what we do radiates through our food, and is amplified by our people.

CREATIVELY COLLABORATIVE

We embrace our differences to push creativity and we work together to be better.

FOREVER CONSCIOUS

We work together as a team to lead by example, protecting the planet and supporting local communities.

Interested? Even if you don’t meet all requirements, we’d like to hear from you. If you are motivated and hungry to learn, we can work together to develop your potential.

We are proud to be an inclusive employer and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We celebrate individuality and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage applications from people of all ages, abilities, gender identities, sexual orientations, races, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds.

BaxterStorey is committed to encouraging equity, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I) among our workforce and aim for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society, and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To support our commitment to this we have set ourselves an ambition to ‘set the standard and to be recognised for having the most inclusive culture in hospitality’.

Join us and bring your unique perspective to our team.