Lead Chef - Premium Event Hospitality Leader

Global Sports Jobs Limited; Manchester; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

23 days' annual leave

Healthcare and wellbeing cover

Birthday day off

Shopping and travel discounts

Pension scheme

Meals on duty

Training and career development

Perks at Work access

Job summary

Manchester United is seeking a Head Chef - Hospitality at Old Trafford to lead our culinary team on matchdays, conferences and high-profile events. This hands-on, high-impact role translates a world-class culinary vision into flawless kitchen execution, focusing on flavour, food safety and cost discipline.

Reporting to the Executive Chef, you will mentor chefs, drive standards, stay calm under pressure and build a one-team operation across all hospitality kitchens.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership experience in premium hospitality, events, hotels or high-volume ops.
• Excellent culinary standards and a passion for outstanding food.
• Lead large teams under high-pressure service environments.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, HACCP, allergens and kitchen compliance.
• Commercial awareness of food cost, labour, stock and yield.
• Hands-on leadership style with credibility to lead from the front.
• Excellent organisation, communication and planning skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the culinary team delivering hospitality across matchdays, major conferences and high-profile events.
• Translate the culinary vision into scalable kitchen execution, driving flavour, presentation, food safety and financial discipline.
• Lead premium hospitality kitchen operations from the front, hands-on and focused on basics.
• Set clear expectations, lead with honesty, fairness and accountability.
• Maintain high standards, challenge poor standards without blame.
• Coach and develop chefs, identify potential and give ownership.
• Stay calm under pressure and provide clarity during busy service.
• Focus on solutions, adapt quickly and provide actionable answers.
• Build a one-team mentality across departments to ensure a seamless guest experience.
• Ensure kitchens are organised, labelled, stocked, briefed and controlled with allergen controls.
• Manage waste, food cost, stock and labour; run debriefs to drive action.

Skills

Leadership experience

Culinary standards

High-volume operation

Food safety HACCP

Organisation & planning

Communication skills

People development

Job description

Manchester United is seeking a Head Chef - Hospitality at Old Trafford to lead our culinary team on matchdays, conferences and high-profile events. This hands-on, high-impact role translates a world-class culinary vision into flawless kitchen execution, focusing on flavour, food safety and cost discipline.

Reporting to the Executive Chef, you will mentor chefs, drive standards, stay calm under pressure and build a one-team operation across all hospitality kitchens.