Lead Chef - Retail | SEC

The Lead Chef is a key kitchen leader supporting the Head Chef to deliver exceptional culinary standards and efficient operations across hospitality and retail. The role oversees food preparation and presentation to ensure consistency and quality, contributes to menu development and innovation, and leads, trains and mentors kitchen colleagues. With a focus on operational excellence, cost control and compliance with food safety and health and safety requirements, the Lead Chef helps create excellent customer experiences and contributes to the overall success and profitability of the operation.

• Work with the Head Chef to plan and develop varied, balanced menus that meet customer needs and dietary requirements across hospitality and retail operations, keeping up to date with culinary trends and introducing appropriate ideas, ingredients and methods.
• Supervise and take part in food preparation and cooking, ensuring high standards of quality, taste and presentation, and maintain consistency through quality-control measures and opportunities to improve the food offer.
• Lead, support and mentor chefs and kitchen assistants, providing training and guidance on culinary techniques and dietary requirements to maintain a cohesive, efficient and productive working environment.
• Support ordering, storage and stock control of ingredients and kitchen supplies, ensuring efficient use of stock and minimising waste.
• Support kitchen budget management, control food costs and source ingredients effectively without compromising quality or nutritional value.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, hygiene and health and safety requirements, including applicable dietary needs, and carry out regular checks to maintain high standards of cleanliness and safety.
• Support the planning and delivery of catering for events, meetings, functions and day-to-day hospitality and retail service, ensuring food and service meet stakeholder and customer expectations.
• Work collaboratively with the Head Chef, nutritionists, sports science professionals and other colleagues to support menus and meal plans that reflect customer, athlete and performance needs where applicable, and support the health
• Wellbeing and performance goals of players and staff through suitable food provision.
• Help create a positive dining experience for customers, players and staff, seeking and using feedback to improve the food offer and satisfaction.
• Help ensure smooth and efficient kitchen operations, minimising delays and downtime and supporting the effectiveness of the wider culinary team.

• Proven experience in a senior culinary role, such as Sous Chef.
• Ability to lead, mentor and manage a kitchen team, fostering a positive, supportive and productive working environment.
• Strong knowledge of food safety regulations, hygiene standards and compliance requirements, with experience maintaining high standards.
• Ability to contribute to varied and engaging menus that cater to different tastes and dietary requirements while maintaining nutritional balance where appropriate.
• Experience managing food costs, supporting budget planning and sourcing ingredients effectively without compromising quality.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with the Head Chef, colleagues and relevant stakeholders.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, in line with venue, event and operational requirements.

• Experience within a stadium, arena, large hotel, high-volume hospitality or high-performance environment.
• Experience across hospitality and/or retail catering.

• Primarily at The OVO Hydro, with support across the wider SEC campus when required.

• £34,000 Per annum, plus bonus and full company benefits.

• 20 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, an additional day off for your birthday, and a holiday purchase scheme.
• Healthcare and wellbeing benefits including Aviva Digicare free annual healthcare check and Medicash dental, optical and therapy treatments (including up to 4 dependent children).
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme for mental health support.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave, plus 2 days additional leave after returning from maternity leave during the first year back, and a day off for your baby's first birthday.
• Shopping, entertainment and travel discounts, including up to 55% off cinema tickets, up to 15% off high street and online stores via Shopping Cards, and discounts with holiday companies such as TUI and Expedia.
• Health and wellbeing discounts including 20% off Nuffield Health and 10% off PureGym memberships.
• Pension scheme and life assurance.
• Financial wellbeing programme and preferred rates on salary finance products.
• Professional subscriptions paid, ongoing training and development, and structured career pathways.
• Meals on duty included.
• Vodafone discounts.
• Exclusive Benefits & Wellbeing site (Perks at Work).

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome candidates from all backgrounds to join us in creating a supportive, empowering workplace where everyone can thrive.