Senior Sous Chef

Utilita Arena; Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 Days Annual Leave

Life Assurance

5% Pension Contribution

Healthshield Cover

Employee Assistance Programme

Eye Care Support

Cycle to Work Scheme

Employee Referral Scheme

Job summary

Legends Global in London is seeking a Senior Sous Chef to support the Head Chef in leading culinary operations within the Heritage Halls, delivering exceptional food experiences across conferences, exhibitions, banquets, VIP events and live entertainment.

As second-in-command you will drive high standards of food quality, presentation and service, lead and develop the kitchen team, contribute to menu development, and ensure operational excellence with a focus on food safety, efficiency and guest

Qualifications

• Strong culinary leadership experience in high-volume hospitality, events or entertainment venues.
• Excellent technical expertise in cooking techniques, equipment, and HACCP practices; culinary qualifications desirable.
• Thrive under pressure in fast-paced environments, staying organised and decisive.
• Be a confident people leader, supervising and developing kitchen teams.
• Combine commercial awareness with strong communication, menu planning and cost control.

Responsibilities

• Support the leadership of a dynamic kitchen operation, delivering restaurant, event and show-night experiences.
• Drive outstanding food quality and service standards while adapting to changing event schedules.
• Lead, coach and develop the kitchen team and oversee daily workflows, staffing and training.
• Manage stock, ordering, labour planning, budgeting and cost management to maximise efficiency and minimise waste.
• Ensure food safety, hygiene and HACCP compliance; oversee kitchen operations in the Head Chef's absence.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Team leadership

Food safety HACCP

Menu planning

Cost control

Stress management

Education

Culinary qualifications (desirable)

Tools

Kitchen equipment

Job description

The Venue

Olympia Events manages the iconic event venues at Olympia, a cultural and architectural landmark that has hosted extraordinary events since 1886. From internationally renowned consumer exhibitions and trade shows to sporting events, concerts and conferences, Olympia continues to bring world-class experiences to London. Its distinctive architecture and nearly 140-year heritage make it one of the UK's most recognisable and sought-after event destinations.

Today, Olympia is entering an exciting new chapter. At the heart of a £1.3 billion transformation, the estate has been reimagined as London's newest fully integrated entertainment, culture and business destination. Designed by Heatherwick Studio and SPARCC for Yoo Capital and Deutsche Finance International, the redevelopment combines Olympia's historic event spaces with an exceptional new destination for visitors, businesses and event organisers.

The Role

The Senior Sous Chef supports the Head Chef in leading culinary operations within the Heritage Halls, delivering exceptional food experiences across conferences, exhibitions, banquets, VIP events and live entertainment.

As second-in-command, the role is responsible for driving high standards of food quality, presentation and service, while leading and developing the culinary team, supporting menu innovation, and ensuring operational excellence across a busy and varied event programme. This role requires a highly organised, adaptable and inspiring leader who can respond seamlessly to changing service demands, event schedules and guest expectations, while helping to create memorable experiences and maintaining the highest standards of food safety, efficiency and guest satisfaction.

The Responsibilities

• Support the leadership of a dynamic kitchen operation, working alongside the Head Chef to deliver exceptional restaurant, event and show-night experiences in a fast-paced entertainment environment.

• Drive outstanding food quality and service standards, ensuring dishes are consistently prepared to recipe, presentation and performance expectations while adapting to changing event schedules and guest needs.

• Lead, coach and develop the kitchen team, overseeing daily workflows, staffing and training to build a motivated, high-performing brigade.

• Manage commercial and operational performance, supporting menu development, stock control, ordering, labour planning, budgeting and cost management to maximise efficiency and minimise waste.

• Champion compliance and operational excellence, maintaining the highest food safety, hygiene and HACCP standards while confidently overseeing kitchen operations in the Head Chef's absence.

What we're looking for

• Bring strong culinary leadership experience, ideally as a Sous Chef, Senior Sous Chef or in a similar role within a high-volume hospitality, events or entertainment-led venue.

• Demonstrate excellent technical expertise, with a strong understanding of cooking techniques, kitchen equipment, food safety regulations and HACCP practices; relevant culinary qualifications are desirable.

• Thrive under pressure in a fast-paced environment, remaining calm, organised and decisive while managing complex services and changing operational demands.

• Be a confident people leader, with proven experience supervising, motivating and developing kitchen teams to deliver consistently high standards.

• Combine commercial awareness with strong communication skills, bringing experience in menu planning, stock management and cost control, alongside the ability to solve problems and deputise effectively for the Head Chef when required.

What can we offer?

25 Days Annual Leave – Work hard, rest well.

Life Assurance – Peace of mind knowing your loved ones are protected.

5% Pension Contribution – Helping you prepare for a bright future.

Healthshield Cover – Support with dental, physio, counselling and more for you and your children.

Employee Assistance Programme – AXA Health support whenever you need it.

Eye Care Support – Vouchers and contributions towards glasses.

Cycle to Work Scheme – A greener, healthier commute.

Employee Referral Scheme – Recommend great people and get rewarded.

Recruitment Process Outlined

• 1st Stage -Online Interview

• 2nd Stage -Face to Face Interview with the Venue Culinary Team

Any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory pre‑employment checks. These may include verification of identity, proof of address, right to work, employment history, qualifications, and—where relevant to the role—a basic or enhanced DBS check. All checks will be carried out in line with data protection law and we will only request information that is necessary for the role.

Inclusive Workplace

At Legends Global , we are committed to leading the entertainment industry towards a greener, faster, and more innovative digital future. There’s never been a better time to join our team. We aim to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers, and suppliers. Join us and make a significant impact from day one.

We are committed to active inclusion, diversity, and equal opportunities. This commitment begins with our recruitment and selection process. We welcome discussions about flexible working arrangements.

If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage of our recruitment process, please let us know in your application. We are dedicated to providing a fair and transparent assessment process and will do our utmost to accommodate your needs.