Sous Chef

Sodexo Ltd; Leeds; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mental health support online platform

Employee Assistance Programme

Free health and wellbeing app

Sodexo Discounts Scheme

Salary Finance Platform

Retirement Plan

Death-in-Service

Learning and development tools

Cycle to Work Scheme

Volunteering Opportunities

Flexible and dynamic work environment

Job summary

Sodexo Live! at Headingley Stadium is seeking a talented Sous Chef to lead kitchen operations on matchdays and major events, supporting the Executive Head Chef and Head Chef.

You will manage a high-volume service, drive culinary creativity, and ensure top-tier guest experiences across premium hospitality and VIP dining. You will develop menus, coach chefs, enforce HACCP and food safety, control costs, and plan labor for varying event demand.

Qualifications

• Experience in high-volume hospitality, events, stadium, hotel or banqueting environments.
• Background in premium hospitality or quality-led catering.
• Proven leadership and development of kitchen teams.
• Passion for food trends, innovation, and menu development.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.
• Strong financial understanding including food cost control and margins.
• Senior Sous Chef or Head Chef experience.
• Experience in stadiums or large-scale hospitality operations.
• Food Safety Level 3.
• IOSH Managing Safely.

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen operations across matchdays, events and hospitality functions.
• Support menu development and culinary innovation.
• Deliver exceptional food quality and presentation standards.
• Inspire, coach and develop chefs at all levels.
• Manage food safety, HACCP and compliance standards.
• Support client tastings and menu presentations.
• Drive profitability through effective food cost control.
• Plan labour requirements and support kitchen resourcing.
• Ensure operational readiness for high-profile events and major fixtures.
• Deputise for the Executive Head Chef and Head Chef when required.

Skills

High-volume hospitality

Fine dining

Team leadership

Food cost control

Stakeholder management

Food safety (HACCP)

IOSH Managing Safely

Contract catering

Training and development

Job description

Headingley Stadium, St Michael's Lane, Headingley LS6 3BR

Free parking

Job Introduction

Create Exceptional Dining Experiences at One of the UK's Most Iconic Sporting Venues

Are you a talented

Sous Chef who thrives in fast-paced, high-volume environments? Do you have a passion for exceptional food, innovation, and delivering unforgettable guest experiences?

If so, this is your opportunity to join

Sodexo Live! at Headingley Stadium, home to world-class international cricket, elite rugby league, major conferences, prestigious hospitality events, banquets, and matchday experiences.

Headingley is one of the UK's most recognised sporting and events destinations, welcoming thousands of guests throughout the year. Every day is different, giving you the opportunity to showcase creativity, develop your skills, and make a real impact on the guest experience. As Sous Chef, you'll support the Executive Head Chef and Head Chef in leading a talented culinary team while ensuring excellence across all food operations.

Working alongside the Executive Head Chef and senior culinary team, you'll play a key role in shaping the food offer across one of Yorkshire's most prestigious venues, delivering everything from premium hospitality and VIP dining experiences to large-scale events and high-profile matchdays. We're looking for a passionate culinary leader who brings energy, creativity and commercial awareness.

If you're ready to take the next step in your culinary career and help create memorable experiences at one of the UK's most exciting sports and entertainment venues, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Do:

• Leading kitchen operations across matchdays, events and hospitality functions
• Supporting menu development and culinary innovation
• Delivering exceptional food quality and presentation standards
• Inspiring, coaching and developing chefs at all levels
• Managing food safety, HACCP and compliance standards
• Supporting client tastings and menu presentations
• Driving profitability through effective food cost control
• Planning labour requirements and supporting kitchen resourcing
• Ensuring operational readiness for high-profile events and major fixtures
• Deputising for the Executive Head Chef and Head Chef when required

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

What You Bring:

• Experience within a high-volume hospitality, events, stadium, hotel or banqueting environment
• Strong background in fine dining, premium hospitality or quality-led catering
• Proven experience leading and developing kitchen teams
• Passion for food trends, innovation and menu development
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Strong financial understanding, including food cost control and margin management
• Previous Senior Sous Chef or Head Chef experience
• Experience in stadiums, major events or large-scale hospitality operations
• Supervising Food Safety Level 3
• IOSH Managing Safely (or equivalent)
• Experience within contract catering
• Training and development experience

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

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.

Keywords:

Stadium Hospitality, Event Catering, Large Scale Banqueting, Matchday Operations, Premium Hospitality, Executive Sous Chef, Fine Dining, Culinary Innovation, Kitchen Leadership, High Volume Catering