Head Chef
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk
Contract: Full Time – (5 days out of 7)
Salary: Up to £50,000 per annum
Free On-Site Parking Available
Benefits
Free meals on duty
Free on-site parking
Volunteers leave – up to one day per year
Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoptive leave
Cycle to work scheme
Recommend a friend bonus
Unrivalled individual training and development
Well-established apprenticeship programme
Team & company social events
Employee assistance programme
Workplace pension
Discounts at major retailers, restaurants, gyms, and more
We are seeking an experienced and passionate Head Chef to lead the catering operation at a prestigious day and boarding co-educational school in Ipswich, as Head Chef in Suffolk you will be catering for approximately 400 pupils and staff daily.
This is a dynamic, 7-day operation delivering breakfast, lunch, supper, and both internal and external hospitality services and events. Working closely with the Catering Team , you will play a pivotal role in delivering exceptional food standards and operational excellence, this is a hands on the tools Head chef role.
Head Chef Duties
Lead, inspire, and manage the kitchen team to deliver high-quality food across all services
Oversee daily catering operations including breakfast, lunch, supper, and hospitality events
Ensure food quality, presentation, and service standards consistently exceed expectations
Plan and develop innovative, nutritious, and seasonal menus
Manage food purchasing, stock control, and supplier relationships
Maintain strict compliance with food safety, hygiene, and health & safety regulations
Control labour and food costs in line with agreed budgets
Monitor financial performance and manage the site’s catering budget effectively
Support and develop team members through training and mentoring
Work collaboratively with senior leadership
Drive continuous improvement across food offer and operational efficiency
Requirements & Background
Proven experience as a Head Chef or senior kitchen leader in a similar high-volume environment ideally contract catering
Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets and food cost controls
Experience within education, contract catering, hospitality, or similar multi-service operations preferred
Excellent leadership and team development skills
Strong knowledge of food safety legislation and HACCP
Passion for fresh food, nutrition, and menu innovation
Ability to work flexibly across a 7-day operation (5 days out of 7)
Relevant professional cookery qualifications (NVQ Level 3 or equivalent desirable)
Strong organisational and communication skills
Mint People: Flexible Hospitality Staffing That Just Works.
At Mint People, we provide fully trained, highly presentable, and dependable staff to the hospitality, leisure, and events industries. Whether it’s one bartender for a last-minute shift or 150 staff for a stadium event, we’re trusted by some of the UK’s best hotels, venues, and operators to deliver quality people – fast.
With over 10 years’ experience, we’ve become known as one of the most reliable and forward-thinking staffing partners in the North – and beyond. From front-of-house professionals to kitchen porters, housekeepers to event managers, our people are trained in-house through our 5-star onboarding and briefing programme to ensure they’re ready to hit the ground running.
Our clients come back year after year because we understand how unpredictable hospitality can be – and we’re built to flex with it. We’re proud to work with national hotel groups, global event brands, leading caterers and independent operators, offering:
• Fast, flexible staffing solutions – no long contracts or tie-ins
• Fully trained, presentable and prepared people
• Front and back of house cover – including chefs, kitchen teams, bar staff, waiters, housekeepers and more
• Festival and stadium-scale team deployment
• National reach with local knowledge
• On-site support and account management
Our quality promise? We only send people we’d trust to represent our own brand – because they are our brand.
If you need staffing support that’s consistent, stress-free and built around you – you’re in the right place.
Mint People – We've got you covered.
