Executive Chef / Head Chef in Belfast

Location: St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School, Belfast

Contract Type: Term Time

Salary: £18.00 per hour

Company: Caterlink

Caterlink is one of the UK’s leading school caterers, providing fresh, innovative food services exclusively to schools and colleges. We are a team of experienced professionals who tailor our catering provision to suit children of all ages and meet the bespoke requirements of each school. The safety and wellbeing of the pupils we serve is at the heart of everything we do. Through rigorous training, clear communication, and exceptional care, we ensure robust allergen management so that every mealtime is a safe and enjoyable experience.

The Role

We are seeking a passionate, hands‑on Executive Chef / Head Chef to lead our culinary team at St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School. In this role, you will take full ownership of the kitchen, driving food standards, managing operations, and delivering outstanding, nutritious food experiences to pupils, staff, and visitors.

Key Responsibilities

• Culinary Leadership: Design and deliver fresh, innovative, and compliant menus that appeal to students while meeting nutritional guidelines.
• Kitchen Operations: Oversee daily food preparation, production, and service, ensuring the highest standards of presentation and quality.
• Team Management: Lead, motivate, and develop the kitchen team, managing rotas and fostering a positive working environment.
• Safety & Compliance: Maintain strict health and safety, food hygiene (HACCP), and impeccable allergen management protocols.
• Financial Control: Manage food costs, stock control, and wastage to ensure the catering service operates within budget.

What We Are Looking For

• Proven experience as a Head Chef or Executive Chef, ideally within a high‑volume education, contract catering, or commercial environment.
• Strong leadership skills with a track record of managing and developing a kitchen team.
• Passion for fresh food and a strong understanding of current food trends and nutrition for young people.
• Excellent knowledge of Food Safety, Health & Safety, and Allergen legislation.
• Relevant culinary qualifications (e.g., NVQ Level 3 or equivalent) and Food Hygiene Level 3/4 is highly desirable.

Benefits

• Work‑Life Balance: Enjoy the benefits of a Term‑Time contract, offering excellent work‑life balance around school holidays.
• Competitive hourly rate of £18.00.
• Ongoing training, career development, and progression opportunities within Caterlink.

Qualifications

• Ideally, you will have experience as an Executive Chef or Head Chef within a contract catering environment, preferably in independent education or a high‑profile business and industry setting.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Passionate about fresh, quality ingredients and innovative menus.
• Excellent organisational, communication, and financial management skills.
• Knowledge of current food trends, sustainability, and allergen control.

In order to be considered for this role you must be able to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. Holroyd Howe is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all employees to share this commitment. All roles within Holroyd Howe involve regulated activity. It is a criminal offence for individuals barred from working with children to apply for such roles. An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, including a Barred List check, will be required for all successful applicants. Shortlisted applicants will be asked to provide information about relevant criminal offences and will be subject to an online search of publicly available information. This search helps identify any issues that may affect suitability to work with children. This appointment is offered on the return of satisfactory professional references.