Sous Chef

Sodexo; Leeds; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading hospitality company in Leeds is seeking a dynamic Sous Chef to enhance culinary operations at Headingley Stadium. In this role, you will lead a culinary team, ensuring high-quality food delivery at major events and corporate functions. We're looking for someone with a fine dining background and a passion for innovation in a fast-paced environment. The position offers a competitive salary with comprehensive benefits, making it a perfect opportunity for culinary professionals aiming to make an impact.

Benefits

Mental health and wellbeing support

Employee Assistance Programme

Health and wellbeing app

Discounts Scheme

Financial benefits via Salary Finance

Retirement Plan

Death-in-Service benefit

Opportunities for growth

Cycle to Work Scheme

Flexible work environment

Qualifications

• Experience in high-volume catering, e.g., major events or stadium operations.
• Background in fine dining, hotels, or high-end catering.
• Proficient communication skills, confident in presentations.
• Solid financial understanding and margin control.
• Leadership with team management skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive culinary delivery across various events.
• Ensure quality, consistency, and presentation of food.
• Lead and develop a brigade of chefs.
• Create innovative menus for stadium hospitality.
• Present dishes confidently during tastings.
• Champion continuous improvement in food quality.

Skills

High-volume catering experience

Fine dining background

Passion for food trends

Strong communication

Financial awareness

Leadership skills

Education

Level 3 Food Hygiene

Job description

Sous Chef

• Headingley Stadium, St Michael's Lane, Leeds

• £32,00pa + excellent benefits

• 40hrs pw 5/7

Job Introduction

Sodexo Live! delivers world-class hospitality and dining across some of the most exciting venues in the country and now we're looking for a dynamic, ambitious Sous Chef to join our culinary leadership team at Headingley Stadium, home to extraordinary matchdays, high-profile events and premium guest experiences.

This is your opportunity to bring creativity, innovation and passion to a venue that demands excellence every single day.

As Sous Chef, you'll play a key leadership role in shaping the culinary vision at Headingley Stadium working closely with the Executive Head Chef and Head Chef. We're looking for a chef with ambition, creativity and the drive to make a real impact.

If you are driven by innovation, thrive in fast-paced event environments and want to deliver unforgettable experiences at Headingley Stadium, we'd love to hear from you!

What You'll Do:

• Drive culinary delivery across matchdays, corporate events, hospitality suites and premium dining.

• Ensure outstanding food quality, consistency and presentation across all kitchens.

• Lead, motivate and develop a high-performing brigade of chefs.

• Create trend-led, forward-thinking menus that set the benchmark for stadium hospitality.

• Present dishes confidently and passionately during client tastings.

• Champion continuous improvement and introduce fresh ideas that elevate the food offer.

• Maintain full compliance with all food safety, health & safety and company standards.

• Support financial performance through effective food cost management, stock control, labour planning, and stepping in for senior chefs when required.

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

What You Bring:

Essential

• Experience in high-volume catering: major events, large-scale banqueting or stadium operations

• Fine dining background (hotels, restaurants or high-end contract catering)

• A genuine passion for food trends, innovation and modern cuisine

• Strong communication skills with confidence presenting to clients

• Solid financial awareness and understanding of food margin control

• Level 3 Food Hygiene

• Proven leadership skills with the ability to manage and inspire a team

Desirable

• Supervising Food Safety Level 3 or IOSH Managing Safely

• Senior Sous Chef or previous Head Chef experience

• Experience in retail / production kitchens

• Contract-catering client management exposure

• Experience in staff training and talent development

What we offer:

Working with Sodexo 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

• Competitive compensation

Ready to be part of something greater? Apply today!

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

About Sodexo

At Sodexo, 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.

Click here to read more about what we do to promote an inclusive culture.The rewards and Benfits guide is attached

Keywords:

Sodexo, Sodexo Jobs, Sodexo Jobs near me, disability confident, family friendly, inclusive, forces friendly, sous chef, chef, Culinary Leadership, Menu Innovation,High-Volume Catering, Food Quality & Standards, Team Development, Event Catering, Food Safety Compliance, Client Engagement, Cost & Stock Control,Stadium Hospitality