Head Chef

BaxterStorey; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday allowance

Birthday day off

Maternity leave 26 weeks

Carer leave 4 weeks

Wedding/commitment day leave

Free meals on shift

Training & development

Pension & life insurance

Perkbox discounts

Wellbeing hub

Cycle to work

Job summary

BaxterStorey in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom, is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead our culinary operations within a contract catering environment. You will oversee food preparation, kitchen staff, and the delivery of exceptional dining experiences, while maintaining high standards of safety, quality and presentation.

This permanent role offers the opportunity to develop menus, manage budgets, control food costs, mentor the team, and collaborate with clients to tailor catering solutions.

Qualifications

• Proven Head Chef or Senior Chef experience in contract catering or large-scale food production.
• Advanced culinary knowledge across techniques and cuisines.
• Demonstrated leadership of kitchen teams of varying sizes.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, HACCP, and health and safety regulations.
• Ability to plan menus, cost analysis and budget management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the kitchen team, providing direction, mentoring and performance feedback.
• Plan, develop and execute diverse menus meeting client requirements and dietary needs.
• Oversee all food preparation, cooking and plating to ensure quality and consistency.
• Maintain safety, hygiene, and budget control while optimising supplier relationships.

Skills

Head Chef experience

Culinary knowledge

Leadership

Food safety HACCP

Menu planning

Budget management

Allergen knowledge

Communication

Quality control

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.

Company Description

Head Chef role in a Milton Keynes

UP To £40'000

5 days per week Monday to Friday

Great Opportunities for growth and development

Benefits:

• 20Days holiday including bank holidays
• Plus your birthday as paid day off
• 3 paid volunteering days
• 3 days paid grandparent leave.
• 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
• Wellbeing hub.
• 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.

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’.