Performance Chef

Sodexo; Leeds; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mental health support

Employee Assistance Programme (legal &

Health & wellbeing app access

Sodexo Discounts Scheme

Salary Finance benefits

Retirement Plan

Death-in-Service

Learning & development tools

Cycle to Work

Volunteering opportunities

Flexible work environment

Job summary

Sodexo Live! at Headingley Stadium in Leeds seeks a Performance Chef to support elite athletes through performance-focused cuisine. You will lead menu development, plan and deliver meals that aid training, recovery and wellbeing in collaboration with nutrition and medical teams.

You’ll drive culinary innovation, manage a kitchen team and engage players with nutrition education, contributing to peak performance on and off the field.

Qualifications

• Experience catering within professional sport or elite performance environments.
• Strong understanding of sports nutrition and performance-focused food provision.
• Proven leadership experience within a professional kitchen.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to perform under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Passion for culinary innovation and athlete wellbeing.
• Motivation to drive high standards and continuous improvement.
• Excellent organisational skills and priority management.
• Experience working with professional sports teams.
• Knowledge of current sports nutrition principles and recovery strategies.
• Experience delivering educational sessions on nutrition or cooking.
• Experience tailoring menus to meet individual dietary needs.
• Multicultural and international cuisine experience.
• Experience managing budgets, stock control, and ordering.
• Experience leading and developing kitchen teams in a high-performance setting.
• Understanding of athlete preparation, recovery, and training nutrition requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, preparation and delivery of high-quality meals designed to optimise performance and recovery.
• Develop nutritionally balanced menus aligned to training and match demands.
• Collaborate with the Club Nutritionist, Performance Coaches and Science & Medicine teams.
• Cater for individual dietary requirements and allergies.
• Inspire athletes through engaging food experiences and education on nutrition.
• Manage kitchen operations, food hygiene and stock control.
• Lead, motivate and develop kitchen teams to maintain high performance.
• Continuously research culinary and nutritional trends for innovation.
• Support wider stadium and hospitality operations when required.

Skills

Sport catering

Sports nutrition

Kitchen leadership

Communication

Pressure resilience

Culinary innovation

High standards

Organisation

Pro sports experience

Sports nutrition principles

Nutrition education

Menu customization

Multicultural cuisine

Budget & stock

Team leadership

Athlete nutrition

Job description

The following content displays a map of the jobs location - Headingley

Free parking

Fuel Performance. Inspire Excellence. Shape the Future of Elite Cricket

At Sodexo Live!, we create extraordinary moments through exceptional food. An exciting opportunity has arisen for a talented Performance Chef to join our team at Headingley Stadium, home of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, where you'll play a vital role in supporting elite athletes through high-performance nutrition.

You'll be responsible for delivering innovative, performance-focused cuisine that directly supports the preparation, recovery and wellbeing of professional cricketers competing at domestic and international level. Working closely with sports science, nutrition and medical teams, you'll help ensure that every meal contributes to success on and off the field.

If you enjoy working in high-performance environments and want your culinary skills to contribute directly to elite sporting success, we'd love to hear from you.

This unique opportunity is suited to an ambitious chef who appreciates the important connection between great food, wellbeing and athletic performance.

You'll combine exceptional culinary skills with strong leadership, creativity and a genuine desire to help athletes perform at their best. You'll be equally comfortable developing innovative menus, leading a kitchen team, collaborating with medical professionals and engaging directly with players.

Most importantly, you'll be motivated by excellence and thrive in an environment where your work has a measurable impact.

What You'll Do:

• Lead the planning, preparation and delivery of high-quality meals designed to optimise performance and recovery.
• Develop creative, nutritionally balanced menus aligned to training schedules, match demands and recovery strategies.
• Work closely with the Club Nutritionist, Performance Coaches and Science & Medicine teams to deliver world-class catering provision.
• Cater for individual dietary requirements, allergies, cultural preferences and performance goals.
• Inspire athletes through engaging food experiences and education around nutrition and healthy eating.
• Manage kitchen operations, food standards, hygiene compliance and stock control.
• Lead, motivate and develop kitchen teams, creating a positive and high-performing culture.
• Continuously research culinary and nutritional trends to keep menus fresh, innovative and performance focused.
• Support wider stadium and hospitality operations when required.

For a full list of responsibilities please view the attached job description

What You Bring:

• Experience catering within professional sport, elite performance environments, or high-level athlete programmes
• Strong understanding of sports nutrition and performance-focused food provision
• Proven leadership experience within a professional kitchen environment
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Ability to perform under pressure in a fast-paced environment
• Passion for culinary innovation and athlete wellbeing
• Highly motivated with a commitment to driving high standards and continuous improvement
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities effectively
• Experience working with professional sports teams
• Knowledge of current sports nutrition principles and recovery strategies
• Experience delivering educational sessions around nutrition, healthy eating, or cooking skills
• Experience tailoring menus to meet individual dietary, allergy, cultural, and performance requirements
• Multi-cultural and international cuisine experience
• Experience managing food budgets, stock control, and ordering processes
• Previous experience leading and developing kitchen teams within a high-performance environment
• Understanding of athlete preparation, recovery, and training nutrition requirements

What we offer:

Working with Sodexo Live! 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

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

About Sodexo Live!

At Sodexo Live!, 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.

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.