Performance Chef

Headingley Stadium, St Michaels Lane, Headingley, Leeds LS6 3BR £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 requirementsWhat we offer: Workin