Deli Chef

Houston & Hawkes; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Birthday off

Maternity/Paternity leave

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Employee Assistance Programme

CODE Hospitality membership

Learning and development

Career progression

Summer Awards Party

Christmas Party London

Job summary

Houston & Hawkes is seeking a talented Deli Chef for our Milton Keynes kitchen. The role focuses on fresh, vibrant, beautifully presented daily food and creative presentation with strong craft skills.

You will lead in food prep, supervise team members, manage stock and costs, and uphold the highest standards of hygiene and safety in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Two years' supervisory responsibility or more.
• City & Guilds/NVQ or equivalent catering training with a food hygiene qualification.
• Strong craft skills with flair in food and presentation.
• Good financial and commercial awareness including cost and stock control.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and deliver a fresh, vibrant daily food offer.
• Bring creativity to menus, seasonal dishes and presentation.
• Work with quality ingredients to ensure consistently excellent food.
• Support the kitchen's day-to-day running and uphold high standards.
• Take responsibility for food prep, production and presentation in your area.
• Supervise and support kitchen team members, sharing knowledge.

Skills

Food presentation

Supervisory experience

Food hygiene

Budget management

Time management

Education

City & Guilds/NVQ catering training

Job description

DELI CHEF

Milton Keynes | £32,000 per annum | Monday to Friday | 37.5 hours

Fresh ingredients. Beautiful food. Creativity in every detail.
Houston & Hawkes is looking for a talented Deli Chef to join our kitchen team at an exciting new client location in Milton Keynes.

We're looking for someone with a genuine passion for food, strong craft skills and a real eye for presentation - a chef who takes pride in creating fresh, vibrant and beautifully presented food. You'll bring creativity, consistency and strong organisation to the kitchen, while supporting the team and maintaining exceptional standards throughout the day.

THE ROLE

• Prepare and deliver a fresh, vibrant and beautifully presented daily food offer.
• Bring creativity and flair to menus, seasonal dishes and presentation.
• Work with quality ingredients to produce consistently excellent food.
• Support the smooth day-to-day running of the kitchen and maintain exceptional standards throughout service.
• Take responsibility for food preparation, production and presentation within your area.
• Support and supervise members of the kitchen team, sharing knowledge and maintaining high standards.
• Manage stock effectively and support strong cost control and minimal food waste.
• Plan and organise your workload to ensure food is prepared efficiently and ready for service.
• Maintain the highest standards of food safety, allergen awareness, hygiene and safe working practices.
• Contribute ideas and creativity to continually develop the food offer.

ABOUT YOU

• Previous experience as a chef, including a minimum of two years' supervisory responsibility.
• City & Guilds, NVQ or relevant catering or food production training, together with a food hygiene qualification or equivalent practical knowledge.
• Strong craft skills with genuine flair and creativity in both food and presentation.
• Good financial and commercial awareness, including cost control, stock control and budget management.
• A well-organised, passionate chef with excellent planning and time-management skills and genuine pride in quality and consistency.

WHY JOIN HOUSTON & HAWKES?

Alongside the opportunity to join an exciting new client location, you'll be joining a business that genuinely invests in its people, celebrates success and creates opportunities to develop.

• Your birthday off every year
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Contributory pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• CODE Hospitality membership, giving you access to one of the UK's leading hospitality communities
• Foodie Socials - bringing our teams together to share new concepts, seasonal food and drink ideas and the creativity happening across Houston & Hawkes
• Ongoing learning, development and genuine opportunities for career progression
• Our Summer Awards Party - celebrating the people, achievements and successes across Houston & Hawkes
• An unforgettable Christmas Party at one of London's outstanding venues - bringing the whole business together to celebrate the year in true Houston & Hawkes style
• Monday to Friday working pattern
• 37.5 hours per week

ABOUT HOUSTON & HAWKES

Houston & Hawkes is an award-winning independent caterer creating vibrant, creative and exceptional food and hospitality experiences across some of the UK's most prestigious client sites.

We're a Certified B Corp, recipient of the King's Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development 2026 and proud to be ranked No. 14 in The Caterer's Best Places to Work in Hospitality.