Head Chef - Contract Catering

Posted 1 week ago

  • Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
  • England
  • Permanent, Full-Time
  • Chefs / Kitchen Management
  • 40,000 - 45,000 per Annum
  • Monday To Friday

Head Chef - Contract Catering - Middlesbrough Area - Up to £45,000

Monday to Friday | High-Volume Retail Operation | Excellent Work-Life Balance

We're recruiting a Head Chef to lead a large-scale Business & Industry catering operation close to Middlesbrough.

This is a fantastic opportunity to take ownership of a busy, modern retail kitchen delivering around 1,000 fresh meals every day. You'll lead a large brigade, drive food innovation and help shape an exciting retail offer within a well-supported national contract caterer.

The Offer

  • Up to £45,000 salary
  • Monday to Friday operation
  • Mainly daytime hours
  • Excellent work-life balance
  • Paid overtime or TOIL
  • 28 days holiday including bank holidays
  • Company pension scheme
  • Free meals on duty
  • Company sick pay
  • Ongoing training and development
  • Internal career progression opportunities
  • Employee referral bonus scheme
  • Long-term, stable contract

The Operation

  • Large-scale Business & Industry contract.
  • Around 1,000 covers served daily.
  • Multiple fresh food retail counters.
  • Modern, fast-paced kitchen environment.
  • Large chef brigade with dedicated production sections.
  • High-volume retail alongside hospitality catering.

The Food

  • Fresh food prepared on-site every day.
  • Modern retail and street food concepts.
  • Rotating seasonal menus and weekly food themes.
  • Premium salads, deli offers and grab-and-go options.
  • Restaurant-quality presentation with consistency at scale.
  • Creativity and food trends actively encouraged.

The Role

  • Lead the entire kitchen operation.
  • Inspire, mentor and develop a large chef brigade.
  • Drive food quality, presentation and consistency.
  • Create exciting seasonal retail menus and concepts.
  • Oversee retail production and hospitality catering.
  • Manage ordering, stock control and supplier relationships.
  • Control labour, food costs and GP performance.
  • Maintain exceptional food safety and compliance standards.
  • Support food innovation, promotions and seasonal activations.
  • Lead from the front and build a positive kitchen culture.

About You

  • Experienced Head Chef within contract catering.
  • Strong background leading high-volume fresh food operations.
  • Reliable, consistent and committed to long-term roles.

If you're looking for a Monday to Friday Head Chef role where you can lead a large operation, develop your team and deliver fresh, modern food in a fast-paced environment, we'd love to hear from you.

If you are keen to discuss the details further, please apply today or send your cv to yasmin at COREcruitment dot com