Senior Head Chef – High-Volume Events & Culinary Leadership

Legends Global (Europe); York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Life Assurance

Pension contribution

Health support

Eye care vouchers

Cycle to Work

Employee Referral Scheme

Job summary

Legends Global is redefining excellence in sport, entertainment and live events. We are seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead our kitchen operation at York Racecourse, overseeing food production across racedays, hospitality, conferences and events with a focus on quality, presentation and service.

You will manage the kitchen team, control food costs and stock, maintain food safety standards and drive high-volume service in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years’ senior-level experience in a food & beverage, hospitality or similar high-volume environment.
• Confident leader who develops and nurtures talent.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Proactive, positive and solutions-focused with strong operational experience.
• Commercially aware with budgets, margins and cost control.

Responsibilities

• Menu Development: Create and develop innovative, seasonal menus across racedays, hospitality, conferences, banqueting, retail and premium experiences, incorporating local provenance and current food trends.
• Culinary Excellence: Lead all food production, ensuring high standards of quality, presentation, service and guest satisfaction.
• Event Delivery: Lead kitchen operations across racedays, conferences, banqueting and large-scale events, maintaining a hands-on approach during high-volume services.
• Team Leadership: Inspire, develop and manage the culinary team, ensuring staffing, training, performance and smooth day-to-day operations.
• Local Sourcing & Sustainability: Champion Yorkshire produce, seasonal ingredients and sustainable sourcing, building supplier relationships.
• Food Safety & Compliance: Ensure the highest standards of food safety, hygiene and allergen management; maintain 5-star food hygiene rating.
• Cost & Commercial Management: Manage budgets through labour, stock and waste control while balancing quality and cost.
• Operational Collaboration: Work with wider teams to ensure efficient service delivery and high standards across events.

Skills

Team leadership

Food safety

Budgeting

Communication

Excel

Job description

Legends Global is redefining excellence in sport, entertainment and live events. We are seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead our kitchen operation at York Racecourse, overseeing food production across racedays, hospitality, conferences and events with a focus on quality, presentation and service.

You will manage the kitchen team, control food costs and stock, maintain food safety standards and drive high-volume service in a fast-paced environment.