Head Chef

Arena Racing Company; Brighton; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sporting venue in Brighton is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead culinary offerings across racedays and events. The ideal candidate should have proven senior chef experience and expertise in managing food safety and compliance. You will develop innovative food strategies, work closely with the Regional Head Chef, and manage a high-performing kitchen team. This is an excellent opportunity for those with a passion for food and culinary innovation in a prestigious environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior chef or head chef role.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, nutrition, and allergen management.
• Good understanding of purchasing systems and IT systems.

Responsibilities

• Manage revenue budgets and achieve cost targets.
• Develop and deliver an innovative food strategy.
• Ensure compliance with Food Safety Management System.

Skills

Leadership skills

Knowledge of HACCP

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Ability to thrive under pressure

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Work in partnership with the Regional Head Chef to manage revenue budgets and achieve cost targets
• Develop and deliver an innovative food strategy across retail, hospitality, and fine dining propositions
• Ensure full implementation and compliance with the Company Food Safety Management System across all areas of responsibility
• Develop and implement effective procurement, storage, and distribution strategies while maintaining agreed stock levels
• Manage kitchen staff rotas across all areas in remit, ensuring timely submission to staffing managers and adherence to cost controls
• Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing kitchen team, allocating daily workloads to maintain operational efficiency and control
• Maintain accurate records of staff attendance, sickness, and absence for all direct reports
• Take full accountability for food safety compliance, including allergen management, accurate food information display, and team training and briefings

About You

• Proven experience in a senior chef or head chef role
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, nutrition, and allergen management
• Good understanding of purchasing systems, technical packages, and IT systems
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and develop teams
• Excellent communication and organisational skills
• Passionate about food, quality, and the kitchen environment
• Thrives under pressure and is structured, systematic, and process-driven

Based at Brighton Racecourse , this role is responsible for leading and managing the venue’s culinary offering across all racedays and events at one of the country’s most prestigious sporting venues.

Working closely with the Regional Head Chef , you will play a key role in the development and delivery of an exciting and commercially successful food offer, including the growth of our non-raceday events business .

If you are an experienced Head Chef with a passion for large-scale event delivery and culinary innovation, we would love to hear from you.

At ARC, we believe that a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace makes us a more relevant, more competitive, and more resilient company. We welcome people from all backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, and experiences. We are an equal opportunities employer and do not discriminate on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, gender reassignment, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, disability or age. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.