Head Performance Chef

Barnsley Football Club; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Oxford United Football Club is seeking a Head Performance Chef to lead the culinary provision for the club, designing meals that support training load, match performance and recovery, and to run the training ground kitchen and restaurant.

The role requires credibility in high‑performance environments, knowledge of performance nutrition, and leadership to develop the restaurant team and engage players and staff.

Qualifications

• Minimum Level 3 Food Safety & Hygiene for Catering.
• Significant experience as a chef in professional sport or high‑performance catering.
• Strong knowledge of performance nutrition, hydration, fueling and recovery.
• Experience delivering tailored athlete meal planning and dietary requirements.
• Proven leadership and kitchen management, including recruitment and staff development.
• Experience with food standards, allergen compliance and hygiene systems.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver performance and recovery‑focused menus aligned to the training cycle, match schedule and individual player demands.
• Tailor individual meals to player dietary requirements, allergies and performance or recovery goals.
• Lead the food offer across the training ground restaurant, ensuring consistency, quality and presentation at every service.
• Support performance through the wider dining experience — a welcoming environment and well‑presented displays and buffets.
• Manage kitchen operations, including hygiene, allergen control and compliance with statutory standards.
• Lead, develop and upskill the restaurant team, setting clear standards and supporting progression.
• Control stock, ordering, supplier relationships and budgets, balancing quality with commercial responsibility.
• Work with sustainability in mind, reducing waste and responsible sourcing.
• Deliver education sessions and cooking demonstrations for players and staff on fueling, cooking skills and food hygiene.

Skills

Nutrition knowledge

Athlete meals

Leadership

Food safety

Budgeting

Communication

High-pressure catering

Education

Level 3 Food Safety & Hygiene for Catering

Job description

As Head Performance Chef, you will lead the culinary provision for the Club, designing and delivering food that directly supports training load, match performance and recovery.

Working closely with the Performance department, you will translate nutritional strategy into outstanding, purposeful meals for the squad, while leading the day‑to‑day operation of the training ground kitchen and restaurant.

This is a leadership role requiring credibility in a high‑performance environment, genuine knowledge of performance nutrition, and a passion for culinary excellence. You will be visible and engaged with players and staff throughout service and will play an important part in shaping the culture and standards of the training centre.

KEY AREAS

• Design and deliver performance and recovery‑focused menus aligned to the training cycle, match schedule and individual player demands.
• Tailor individual meals to player dietary requirements, allergies, cultural preferences and performance or recovery goals.
• Lead the food offer across the training ground restaurant, ensuring consistency, quality and presentation at every service.
• Support performance through the wider dining experience — a welcoming environment, considered food displays and buffet layouts, and a consistent willingness to go above and beyond for players and staff.
• Manage kitchen operations, including hygiene, food safety, allergen control and compliance with all statutory standards.
• Lead, develop and upskill the restaurant team, setting clear standards and supporting individual progression.
• Control stock, ordering, supplier relationships and budgets, balancing quality with commercial responsibility.
• Work with sustainability in mind, reducing waste and making environmentally conscious sourcing decisions.
• Deliver education sessions and cooking demonstrations for players and staff on fuelling, cooking skills and food hygiene, including support for players living independently for the first time.

About The Candidate

• Relevant professional catering qualifications, including a minimum of Level 3 Food Safety & Hygiene for Catering.
• Significant experience as a chef in professional sport, elite performance or another high‑pressure catering environment.
• Strong working knowledge of performance nutrition, hydration, fuelling and recovery, gained through professional experience and/or formal qualification.
• Demonstrable experience of delivering tailored athlete meal planning and managing individual dietary requirements.
• Proven leadership and kitchen management capability, including recruitment and staff development.
• Experience managing food standards, allergen compliance and hygiene systems to a high level, with a track record of strong EHO ratings.
• Experience of budget management, stock control and supplier negotiation.
• Excellent communication skills, with the confidence and credibility to engage directly with players, coaches and senior staff.
• Ability to work under pressure and adapt to a changing fixture schedule, including matchdays and weekends.

About The Club

Code of Conduct

Oxford United Football Club expects the highest standards of integrity and conduct in all matters concerning the Club and its employees. The Code of Conduct makes clear the standards of conduct expected from its employees and explains the responsibilities of the Club, as the employer. All employees are expected to always act wholeheartedly in the interests of the Club. Any conduct detrimental to its interests or its relations with its customers, suppliers, the public or damaging to its public image shall be a breach of Club rules and policies. Discriminatory, offensive, and violent behaviour are unacceptable, and any complaints or concerns will be dealt with and acted upon.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Oxford United Football Club are committed to ensuring that equality, inclusion, and diversity of opportunity is at the very heart of everything we do to ensure we provide fair and non‑prejudicial access to the services across the Club. We uphold everyone’s freedom of rights and choice to be different and aim to provide opportunities for everyone to succeed. It is the policy of the Club that no person, whether player, job applicant, employee, volunteer, or customer, shall be discriminated against. The Club opposes all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination, either direct or indirect, or harassment, on the grounds of the following ‘protected characteristics’: Age, Disability, Gender Reassignment, Marriage & civil Partnership, Pregnancy & Maternity, Race, Religion or Belief, Sex and Sexual Orientation. Anyone who is found to be in breach of this could receive disciplinary action, which may well include suspension and dismissal.

The Club is fully committed to the EFL Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Standards and as we are underrepresented in these areas; we particularly welcome ‘entry level’ applications from women, individuals from Black and Minority Ethnicities, the LGBT community and anyone with a disability.

Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment

Oxford United Football Club are committed to and has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure that all children and vulnerable adults are protected and kept safe from harm whilst engaged in services organised and provided by the Club and believes that the general wellbeing, welfare and safety of all children and vulnerable adults engaged in Club activities is of the upmost importance. The Club will fulfil its responsibilities by ensuring it displays best practice in safeguarding matters – including Safer Recruitment - carried out in a spirit of partnership and openness with the child or vulnerable adult, families, and the relevant local authority.