Baxterstorey - Head Chef

WSH Group; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

20 days holiday incl bank holidays

Birthday off paid day

26 weeks maternity leave

Pension & life insurance

Free meals on shift

Training & development opportunities

Perkbox discounts

Employee assistance programme

Cycle to work

Job summary

BaxterStorey in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom, is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead our kitchen in a dynamic contract catering environment. You will oversee food preparation, staff, budgets, and menu development to deliver exceptional dining experiences.

We value culinary excellence, strong leadership, and rigorous safety standards, with a focus on creativity, client collaboration, and ongoing development of the culinary team.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Head Chef or Senior Chef in large-scale catering or food production.
• Advanced culinary knowledge across techniques and cuisines.
• Strong leadership with kitchen team management.
• Solid understanding of food safety, HACCP, and health regulations.
• Experience with budgeting, cost control, and supplier management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the kitchen team with clear direction and feedback.
• Plan, develop, and execute diverse client menus meeting dietary needs.
• Oversee food preparation, safety, budgeting, and menu innovation.
• Collaborate with clients and management to deliver tailored catering solutions.

Skills

Head Chef experience

Leadership

Culinary knowledge

Food safety HACCP

Menu planning

Cost analysis

Allergen management

Staff scheduling

Job description

Great Opportunities for growth and development

• 20Days holiday including bank holidays
• Plus your birthday as paid day off
• 26week’s enhanced maternity leave.
• Secondary carerleave (enhanced; 4 weeks)
• Paid Wedding/commitment day leave.
• Free meals on shift.
• Bespoke training and development opportunities
• Pension and life insurance.
• Discounts available on our Perkbox app; high street shops, holidays & cinema
• Access to employee assistance programme.
• Cycle to work scheme.

Calling all culinary connoisseurs that are OBSESSED about food, we need you! If you have an insatiable appetite for the culinary arts and a burning desire to create food that delights customers and clients, then look no further. At BaxterStorey we offer an exceptional culinary playground where your creativity can flourish, your talents can shine and we wholeheartedly believe in nourishing talent and empowering our chefs to continuously evolve, refine their craft and create a development partnership together to ensure professional growth opportunities.

We have an exciting opportunity for a collaborative, inclusive and passionate Head Chef to join our team

This is a fantastic opportunity for a skilled Head Chef to make a name for themselves within the food service industry and be a part of setting the new standard for workplace hospitality.

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.

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