Head Chef Hospitality | Manchester United

Compass Group UK; Manchester; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

23 days leave + bank holidays

Meals on duty

Life Assurance

Wellbeing support

Job summary

Levy UK & Ireland is seeking a Head Chef – Hospitality for Manchester United at Old Trafford. You will lead the culinary team delivering premium hospitality across matchdays, conferences and events, translating a world‑class culinary vision into flawless kitchen execution.

Reporting to the Executive Chef, you will drive standards, food safety and cost discipline, mentor chefs and build a high‑performing, cohesive kitchen operation in a high‑pressure environment.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership experience in premium hospitality, events, hotels, or high‑volume operations.
• Excellent culinary standards with a passion for outstanding food.
• Ability to lead large teams during high‑pressure service environments.
• Knowledge of food safety, HACCP, allergens and kitchen compliance.
• Commercial awareness across food cost, labour, stock and yield.
• Hands‑on leadership with credibility to lead from the front.
• Strong organisation, communication and planning skills.
• A commitment to developing people and building a strong culinary team.

Responsibilities

• Lead culinary team delivering premium hospitality across matchdays, conferences and events.
• Translate culinary vision into flawless, scalable kitchen execution.
• Drive food safety, cost discipline and high standards.
• Mentor and develop chefs, identify potential, and give ownership.
• Maintain calm under pressure and lead from the front.
• Foster a one‑team operation across all departments.

Skills

Leadership

Food safety

HACCP

Kitchen mentoring

Team leadership

Cost discipline

High-pressure service

Job description

Head Chef Hospitality - Manchester United

£55,000 + excellent benefits including healthcare, wellbeing support, 23 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, life assurance, meals on duty, and more.

We're looking for...

As Head Chef – Hospitality at Manchester United, you will lead the culinary team responsible for delivering exceptional hospitality experiences across matchdays, major conferences and high-profile events at Old Trafford.

Reporting directly to the Executive Chef, this is a hands‑on, high-impact leadership role. You will translate a world‑class culinary vision into flawless, scalable kitchen execution, leading premium hospitality kitchen operations while driving flavour, presentation, food safety and financial discipline.

You will mentor and develop talent, lead calmly under pressure and build a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring every guest experience reflects the prestige and passion of one of the world's most iconic sporting venues.

We are Levy

We are a visionary venue partner. We design and deliver bespoke guest experiences that prioritise people and the planet.

Trusted by some of the world's most iconic stadiums, entertainment venues, and major events from Wimbledon and Twickenham to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Edgbaston, the SEC and ExCeL London we bring experiences to life with passion and precision.

Our mission is to succeed the right way. From pioneering tech and seamless operations to show‑stopping menus and exceptional service, we use insight and innovation to understand guests, improve the customer journey, reduce environmental impact, and support local communities.

We are a passionate, diverse team of venue specialists dedicated to making the planet better for future generations.

Head Chef Hospitality - The Role

We are looking for a leader who combines high standards with high support. You will be calm, direct, organised and human, with no ego and no drama — particularly when the pressure is on.

You’ll lead from the front, remaining visible, hands‑on and never above the basics.

You’ll be expected to:

• Stay calm under pressure and bring clarity when the room gets louder.
• Set clear expectations and lead with honesty, fairness and accountability.
• Maintain high standards and challenge poor standards without creating blame.
• Coach and develop chefs, identify potential and give people genuine ownership.
• Focus on solutions, adapting quickly and bringing answers rather than simply problems.
• Build a strong one‑team mentality, respecting every department and recognising that the guest experiences one operation.

Success in this role means delivering repeatable, consistently excellent performance. The operation should become calmer, stronger and more consistent because of your leadership.

You’ll know you’re succeeding when:

• The brigade understands the plan, knows the standard and takes ownership.
• Kitchens are ready early — organised, labelled, stocked, briefed and controlled.
• Food is consistently excellent across rooms, covers and services.
• Food safety and allergen controls are everyday habits, not last‑minute checks.
• Waste, food cost, stock and labour are understood and actively managed.
• Debriefs lead to action, with recurring problems reduced event by event.
• Talent progresses and future culinary leaders emerge from the team.

What were looking for

• Strong leadership experience within premium hospitality, events, hotels, restaurants or a comparable high‑volume operation.
• Excellent culinary standards and a genuine passion for delivering outstanding food.
• The ability to lead large teams through high‑pressure service environments.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, HACCP, allergens and kitchen compliance.
• Commercial awareness across food cost, labour, stock, waste and yield.
• A hands‑on leadership style with the credibility to lead from the front.
• Excellent organisation, communication and planning skills.
• A commitment to developing people and building a strong culinary team.

What you'll get in return

• Competitive salary with bonus and full company benefits
• 23 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, your birthday off, and a holiday purchase scheme
• Healthcare & wellbeing: Aviva Digicare, Medicash (dental, optical, therapy treatments)
• Mental health support: 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Family benefits: Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave. 2 days additional leave after returning from maternity leave, day off for your baby's first birthday, enhanced family leave
• Perks & discounts: Shopping, entertainment, and travel discounts, 20% off Nuffield Health and 10% off PureGym memberships
• Financial wellbeing: Pension scheme, Life Assurance, preferred rates on salary finance products
• Development opportunities: Professional subscriptions, ongoing training and structured career pathways

Why Join Us?

Levy UK & Ireland is part of Compass Group, the world's largest catering company, and a vibrant leader in hospitality.

We believe in celebrating individuality and building inclusive teams where everyone feels they belong. Our diverse team fuels creativity, innovation, and excellence.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome candidates from all backgrounds to join us in creating a supportive, empowering workplace where everyone can thrive.

Together, we create unforgettable experiences and shape the future of hospitality.

• Medicash - Healthcare benefits, including dental, optical and therapy treatments (includes up to 4 dependent children)
• Aviva Digicare - Free annual healthcare check
• Exclusive Benefits & Wellbeing site (Perks at Work)
• Entertainment discounts - up to 55% off cinema tickets
• Health & Wellbeing discounts - Discounts for Nuffield Health (20%) and Pure Gym (10%)
• Travel discounts - Discounts with holiday companies such as TUI and Expedia
• Shopping discounts - Save up to 15% at high street and online stores by purchasing Shopping Cards
• Meals on duty
• Vodaphone discounts
• Pension scheme and Life Assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• 23 days + BH's and additional day off for your birthday
• 2 days additional leave, following return from Maternity leave during first year back
• Competitive and supportive family benefits
• Day off for baby's first birthday
• Holiday purchase scheme
• On-going training & development and career pathways
• Professional subscriptions paid
• Financial wellbeing programme and preferred rates on salary finance products

As part of Compass you'll help to feed people, fuel progress and forge connections in around 6,000 venues. Join us to grow your career with the industry leader, and get competitive pay, great perks and unrivalled opportunities for learning and development, at one of the UK's biggest businesses.

Job Reference: com/0810/44816001/52838422/SU #Levy UK

Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!