Sodexo Live!: Performance Chef (Deadline – Nov 2)

Cricexec; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free parking

Excellent benefits

Unlimited mental health & wellbeing平台

Employee Assistance Programme

Free health & wellbeing app

Job summary

Sodexo Live! is recruiting a Performance Chef for Headingley Stadium in Leeds to deliver performance-focused meals for elite cricket players. You will design nutritionally balanced menus, lead the kitchen and collaborate with nutrition and medical teams to support training, recovery and wellbeing.

The role requires leadership in a high-pressure kitchen, a Level 3 Food Hygiene qualification, and a passion for sport nutrition and innovative cuisine to optimise athlete performance.

Qualifications

• Experience catering within professional sport or elite performance environments.
• Strong understanding of sports nutrition and performance-focused food provision.
• Level 3 Food Hygiene qualification.
• 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 high standards and continuous improvement.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Sports nutrition

Leadership

Food hygiene level 3

Communication

Pressure handling

Culinary innovation

Athlete wellbeing

Organisational skills

Menu development

Job description

• Job reference: SDX/TP/1046678/163225
• Location: Headingley
• Job type: Full Time - 40 hours per week
• Salary: circa £38,000pa + excellent benefits
• Closing date: 02 November 2026

About the role

Performance Chef

• Headingley Stadium, St Michaels Lane, Headingley, Leeds LS6 3BR
• circa £38,000pa + excellent benefits
• 40hrs pw 5/7
• Food safety level 3 essential
• 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

• Essential
  • Experience catering within professional sport, elite performance environments, or high-level athlete programmes
  • Strong understanding of sports nutrition and performance-focused food provision
  • Level 3 Food Hygiene qualification
  • 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
• Desirable
  • 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 to be part of something greater. You’ll belong in a company and team that values you for you; 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

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 to being an 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.

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

File Downloads

• UK Rewards and Benefits Guide..pdf
• Performance Chef JD (2).pdf