Lead Chef - Hydro Hospitality | SEC

This role is a key kitchen leader supporting the Head Chef to deliver exceptional culinary standards and efficient operations across hospitality and retail. It oversees food preparation and presentation, contributes to menu development and innovation, and leads, trains and mentors kitchen colleagues. With a focus on operational excellence, cost control and compliance with food safety and health and safety requirements, the role helps create excellent customer experiences and contributes to the profitability of the operation.

• Plan and develop varied, balanced menus with the Head Chef that meet customer needs and relevant dietary requirements across hospitality and retail operations, keeping up to date with culinary trends and introducing appropriate ideas, ingredients and methods.
• Supervise and take part in food preparation and cooking, ensuring food meets high standards of quality, taste and presentation and complies with food safety and hygiene requirements.
• Lead, support and mentor chefs and kitchen assistants, maintaining a cohesive, efficient and productive working environment and providing training and guidance on culinary techniques and relevant dietary requirements.
• Maintain consistency in food quality and presentation, apply quality-control measures and identify opportunities to improve the food offer.
• Support ordering, storage and stock control of ingredients and kitchen supplies, ensuring efficient use of stock and minimising waste.
• Support kitchen budget management, control food costs and source ingredients effectively without compromising quality or nutritional value.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, hygiene and health and safety requirements, as well as applicable dietary needs, and carry out regular checks to maintain high standards of cleanliness and safety.
• Support the planning and delivery of catering for events, meetings, functions and day-to-day hospitality and retail service, ensuring food and service meet stakeholder and customer expectations, and help ensure smooth and efficient kitchen operations by minimising delays and downtime.
• Work collaboratively with the Head Chef, nutritionists, sports science professionals and other relevant colleagues to support menus and meal plans that reflect customer, athlete and performance needs where applicable, and support the health
• Wellbeing and performance goals of players and staff through suitable food and meal provision.
• Help create a positive dining experience for customers, players and staff, and seek and use feedback to improve the food offer and satisfaction.

• Proven experience in a senior culinary role, such as Sous Chef.
• Ability to lead, mentor and manage a kitchen team, fostering a positive, supportive and productive working environment.
• Strong knowledge of food safety regulations, hygiene standards and compliance requirements, with experience maintaining high standards.
• Ability to contribute to varied and engaging menus that cater to different tastes and dietary requirements while maintaining nutritional balance where appropriate.
• Experience managing food costs, supporting budget planning and sourcing ingredients effectively without compromising quality.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with the Head Chef, colleagues and relevant stakeholders.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, in line with venue, event and operational requirements.

• Experience in a stadium, arena, large hotel, high-volume hospitality or high-performance environment.
• Experience across hospitality and/or retail catering.

• Primarily based at The OVO Hydro, with support across the wider SEC campus when required.

• £34,000 Per annum plus bonus.

• 20 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, an additional day off for your birthday, and a holiday purchase scheme.
• Healthcare and wellbeing benefits including Aviva Digicare free annual healthcare check and Medicash dental, optical and therapy treatments (including up to four dependent children).
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme for mental health support.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave, plus two days' additional leave after returning from maternity leave during the first year back, and a day off for a baby's first birthday.
• Shopping, entertainment and travel discounts, including up to 55% off cinema tickets, up to 15% off high street and online stores via Shopping Cards, and discounts with holiday companies such as TUI and Expedia.
• 20% off Nuffield Health and 10% off PureGym memberships.
• Pension scheme and life assurance.
• Preferred rates on salary finance products and access to a financial wellbeing programme.
• Professional subscriptions paid, ongoing training and development, and structured career pathways.
• Meals on duty.
• Vodafone discounts.
• Exclusive Benefits & Wellbeing site (Perks at Work).