Development Chef Lead - Innovation

Baxterstore; Greater London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training & development

Apprenticeships

Pension & life insurance

Perkbox discounts

Employee assistance

Cycle to work

Job summary

BaxterStorey is seeking a Culinary Innovation Chef Lead in London to spearhead new food concepts and bespoke client experiences. You will drive creativity across pastry and savoury offerings, turning ideas into memorable, high-quality hospitality experiences for prestigious clients.

This role focuses on innovation, presentation and client collaboration, with freedom to experiment and develop bespoke food experiences tailored to each occasion and taste.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Head Chef or Exec Chef.
• Strong pastry expertise and broad culinary knowledge.
• Passion for food innovation and experience-led hospitality.
• Eye for presentation, detail, and quality.
• Ability to take ideas from inspiration to delivery.
• Self-motivated with ownership of projects.
• Excellent client-facing communication.
• Solid food safety, allergen management, kitchen standards.
• Collaborative approach; inspire others via food.
• Aligns with BaxterStorey values.

Responsibilities

• Lead culinary innovation and continually develop new food concepts and experiences.
• Create bespoke and customisable offers designed around the needs and preferences of the client.
• Develop exceptional client facing food experiences, from tastings to hospitality and special events.
• Work across pastry and savoury innovation, bringing creativity and technical expertise to both areas of the kitchen.
• Take inspiration from emerging food trends, restaurants, hospitality, retail influences and translate these into relevant concepts.
• Build strong relationships with the client, listening to their needs and turning insight and feedback into culinary ideas.
• Bring concepts to life through presentation, exceptional flavour and attention to detail.
• Collaborate with our operational on site team to ensure new concepts can be successfully delivered while maintaining exceptional standards.
• Create a programme of engaging innovation sessions, tastings, showcases that keeps the offer continually evolving.

Skills

Head Chef / Exec Chef

Pastry expertise

Food innovation

Presentation skills

Idea development

Project ownership

Client communication

Food safety knowledge

Team collaboration

Values alignment

Job description

• Bespoke training and development opportunities
• Apprenticeships opportunities for all experience levels
• Pension and life insurance.
• Discounts available from Perkbox app, from high street shops to holidays & cinema.
• Access to employee assistance programme.
• Cycle to work scheme.

The Opportunity

Calling all culinary creatives who are OBSESSED with food, innovation and exceptional client experiences. We are looking for an outstanding Culinary Innovation Chef Lead to join one of our prestigious London law firm clients in a brand new role dedicated exclusively to culinary innovation, creativity and client experience.

This is not a traditional kitchen leadership position, your focus will be on creating developing and bringing new ideas to life, ensuring our food and hospitality offer remains completely tailored to our client.

You will have the freedom to experiment, challenge and develop bespoke, customisable food experiences that respond to different client occasions, tastes and requirements.

We are looking for someone with a genuine creative eye for detail, the ability to transform an idea into something memorable, strong pastry skills alongside broad culinary expertise would be particularly desirable, allowing you to innovate across the complete food offer.

At BaxterStorey, we are passionate about food and believe in giving talented chefs the space to create. This role offers a unique culinary opportunity where your creativity can flourish, your talent can shine and you can help shape the future of our offer.

Job Description

As Culinary Innovation Chef Lead, you will:

• Lead culinary innovation and continually develop new food concepts and experiences.
• Create bespoke and customisable offers specifically designed around the needs and preferences of the client.
• Develop exceptional client facing food experiences, from tastings to hospitality and special events.
• Work across pastry and savoury innovation, bringing creativity and technical expertise to both areas of the kitchen.
• Take inspiration from emerging food trends, restaurants, hospitality, retail influences and translate these into relevant concepts.
• Build strong relationships with the client, listening to their needs and turning insight and feedback into culinary ideas.
• Bring concepts to life through presentation, exceptional flavour and attention to detail.
• Collaborate with our operational on site team to ensure new concepts can be successfully delivered while maintaining exceptional standards.
• Create a programme of engaging innovation sessions, tastings, showcases that keeps the offer continually evolving.

Become a culinary ambassador, engaging confidently with clients and bringing passion to every experience

Qualifications

• Proven experience atHead Chef or Exec Chef
• Strong pastry expertise combined with excellent all round culinary knowledge would be highly advantageous.
• A genuine passion for food innovation, creativity and experience led hospitality.
• An exceptional eye for presentation, detail and quality.
• The ability to take an idea from initial inspiration through development, testing and final delivery.
• Highly self motivated with the ability to take ownership of projects and drive ideas forward.
• Excellent communication skills and the confidence to engage directly with clients.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, allergen management and kitchen standards.
• Collaborative approach and the ability to inspire others through food.
• Alignment with BaxterStorey values and our passion for exceptional food and hospitality.

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.

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.

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'.