Head Chef

Sodexo Group; North East; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global service provider is looking for an experienced Head Chef to manage culinary operations at Newcastle United Football Club. This role involves overseeing food production, innovating menus, and maintaining high culinary standards in a dynamic environment. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills, a creative mindset, and a background in high-volume catering. Competitive salary and benefits offered.

Benefits

Unlimited access to mental health support

Employee Assistance Programme

Access to free health and wellbeing app

Sodexo Discounts Scheme

Money insights and financial benefits

Retirement plan membership

Death-in-Service benefit

Career growth opportunities

Cycle to Work Scheme

Volunteering opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a high-volume culinary leadership role.
• Excellent team leadership and people management skills.
• Creative flair for menu development and food presentation.

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen operations, managing food production and culinary teams.
• Create and innovate menus tailored to client needs and events.
• Ensure compliance with health & safety and hygiene standards.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Food safety knowledge

Menu development

Team management

Cost control

Education

CIEH Level 3 in Food Safety

IOSH Managing Safely qualification

Job description

• Newcastle United Football Club, St James Park NE1 4ST
• £41,000pa + excellent bonus and benefits
• 40hrs pw 5/7 with flexibility as business demands
• excellent family work life balance, mostly day work

Job Introduction

At Sodexo, we deliver exceptional culinary experiences in dynamic environments — and few venues are as exciting as Newcastle United Football Club. We're looking for an experienced and innovative Head Chef to lead our culinary operation across NUFC projects, supporting everything from high-end matchday service to unique hospitality experiences and large-scale events.

You’ll play a central role in driving culinary standards, supporting the Executive Head Chef, and delivering high-quality food with flair, efficiency, and creativity.

Whether you're serving fine dining in the executive lounges or fuelling fans on matchday, you’ll help us create memorable experiences that go far beyond the plate.

What You'll Do:

Lead kitchen operations, managing food production, service, and culinary teams on match days and non-match days

Create, innovate, and evolve menus and food offers tailored to diverse client needs and events

Ensure full compliance with health & safety, allergen protocols, and hygiene standards across all kitchen areas

Control budgets, monitor food and labour costs, and drive efficiency without compromising quality

Train, mentor, and retain kitchen staff to build a skilled and motivated team

Support client tastings, drive food concept development, and contribute to kitchen design for new projects

Collaborate closely with front- and back-of-house teams to ensure seamless service delivery

Please take the time to read the attached job description

What You Bring:

Proven experience in a high-volume culinary leadership role

Strong knowledge of food safety, hygiene, and allergen compliance

Creative flair for menu development and food presentation

Excellent team leadership and people management skills

Experience working in fast-paced, client-focused environments

Sound understanding of cost control and budget management

CIEH Level 3 in Food Safety

IOSH Managing Safely qualification (or willingness to obtain)

Ability to lead and train a kitchen team to high standards

A proactive and adaptable approach to kitchen operations and service delivery

What we offer:

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it’s a chance tobe part of something greater.You’ll belong in a company and team that values you foryou;you’ll act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions; and you’ll be able to thrive in your own way.In addition, we also offer a range of resources, rewards and benefits for our colleagues and their families:

• Unlimited access to an online platform offering mental health and wellbeing support.
• Employee Assistance Programme to help with everyday issues or larger problems where you may need additional support, including legal and financial advice, support with work related issues or personal issues such as bereavement.
• Access to a free health and wellbeing app that provides rewards for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and includes access to a 24hr virtual GP and various other services.
• The Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering great deals 24/7 (also open to friends and family) and/or the prepayment cashback card.
• Money Insights and financial benefits via the Salary Finance Platform.
• Save for your future by becoming a member of the Sodexo Retirement Plan
• A Death-in-Service benefit for colleagues who pass away whilst employed by Sodexo
• Opportunities to enable colleagues to grow and succeed throughout their career at Sodexo, including a variety of learning and development tools.
• Cycle to Work Scheme to help colleagues to do their bit for the environment whilst keeping fit.
• Volunteering Opportunities to enable all colleagues to help support worthwhile causes in our communities.
• Flexible and dynamic work environment
• Competitive compensation
• Full training and full protective uniform supplied.

Ready to be part of something greater? Apply today!Career progression for the caring profession.

Sodexo reserves the right to close this advertisement early if we are in receipt of a high volume of applications.

About Sodexo

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better every day for everyone to build a better life for all.As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100 million consumers each day through our unique combination of On-Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services.

We are committed tobeingan inclusive employer. We are a forces friendly employer.We welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds, and identities.We encourage our employees to get involved with our Employee Networks such as Pride, Sodexo Parents & Carers, Sodexo Disability, Ability network, So Together, Generations and Origins.

We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer. We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations. We run a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job .

Click here to read more about what we do to promote an inclusive culture.

Sodexo Disability, Ability network, So Together, Generations and Origins .

Salary £41,000pa + excellent bonus and benefits

Frequency Annual

Job Reference SDX/TP/1046678/145888/SL

Contract Type Permanent – Full Time

Closing Date 12 August, 2025

Job Category Chefs

Business Unit UK Sodexo Live

Location Newcastle United Footbal Club , United Kingdom