Head Chef

ACC Liverpool Group; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent event campus provider in Greater London is seeking a Culinary Operations Leader to oversee strategies for food and beverage services across multiple venues. The role involves driving culinary innovation, ensuring exceptional food quality, and managing kitchen teams to achieve commercial targets. Ideal candidates will have experience in large venue operations, strong leadership skills, and the ability to maintain food safety standards. This position offers an opportunity to influence the culinary experience of major events and initiatives.

Benefits

Enhanced holiday scheme

Excellent pension scheme

Free onsite parking

Access to premium health care policy

Qualifications

• Experience in opening new hospitality operations at large venues.
• Ability to lead kitchen teams with professionalism and positivity.
• Experience with cost-effective procurement and supplier relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead culinary strategy and delivery across operations.
• Ensure food quality and consistency meet brand standards.
• Manage and mentor kitchen teams to promote efficiency.

Skills

Leadership and team management

Culinary innovation

Food safety compliance

Cost control and procurement

Menu development

Job description

Overview

The ACC Liverpool Group operates the city's waterfront event campus - the interconnected M&S Bank Arena, ACC Liverpool, and Exhibition Centre Liverpool - as well as ticketing agency Ticket Quarter and the Pullman Liverpool Hotel. We have successfully staged a wide array of national and international events, from shows and conventions to business gatherings and exhibitions, developing our offer to become a world-class provider of venue and event services.

Benefits

• An enhanced holiday scheme which increases with length of service.
• An excellent pension scheme is available.
• Access to a premium health care policy, which includes an employee assistance line, contributions towards a wide range of medical costs (dental and optical) and staff discounts.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave schemes.
• An excellent occupational sick pay scheme.
• Free onsite parking in the city centre.
• Employee Reward Platform.
• A dedicated wellbeing strategy to support staff at work.
• 25 Qualified Mental Health First Aiders on site.

Role overview

The successful candidate will lead the culinary strategy and delivery across ACC Liverpool's sports and entertainment culinary operations, ensuring innovation, consistency and compliance while delivering exceptional guest experiences. This role provides leadership, vision and operational excellence across all kitchen teams, embedding a One Team culture and aligning culinary delivery with commercial objectives.

Ideal candidate experience

• Opening new hospitality operations in arenas, stadiums or large venues.
• Building systems, teams, menus and workflows from the ground up within established organisations.
• Transitioning from outsourced to in-house catering models.
• Designing and implementing operational frameworks.
• Developing cost-effective procurement and supplier relationships.
• Specifying and commissioning equipment, planning kitchen layouts and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Main duties

• Leading menu development and culinary innovation across retail and hospitality services.
• Ensuring food quality, presentation and consistency meet brand standards.
• Managing and mentoring Sous Chefs and kitchen teams.
• Overseeing stock control, menu costing, portion control and waste reduction.
• Ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation including Health & Safety, Food Safety, Allergen Management, COSHH, Environmental Health and Fire Safety.
• Collaborating with F&B leadership to align culinary delivery with operational and commercial goals.
• Driving efficiency to achieve labour and food cost targets.
• Acting on guest feedback to continuously improve standards.
• Maintaining supplier relationships and supporting event delivery.
• Support event planning and execution, ensuring seamless integration of culinary services.

Person specification

• Leads kitchen teams with professionalism, positivity and accountability.
• Delivers high-quality food consistently at scale.
• Remains calm, organised and solutions-focused under pressure.
• Champions a guest-first mindset and adapts to diverse audiences.
• Drives creativity and menu innovation while meeting commercial targets.
• Communicates effectively across departments.
• Maintains rigorous food safety, HACCP, Allergen Management Hygiene, compliance standards.
• Demonstrates strong cost control, planning and operational discipline.

In addition to the above, the candidate will need to be enthusiastic, like-minded and complement our experienced and talented team. If you have drive, passion and ambition and wish to play a part in The ACC Liverpool Group's continuing success story this could be the job for you.

Closing Date: 16 January 2026

Interview Date: TBC

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

The ACC Liverpool Group values a diverse and representative team and promotes equal opportunities. We are committed to an inclusive workforce where everybody feels respected, is treated fairly and diversity is celebrated. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.