Executive Head Chef

We are looking for an experienced exceptional Executive Head Chef to join our dynamic Sodexo Live team at Hampden Park Stadium, Scotland's National Stadium and The Home of Scottish Football.

As Executive Head Chef at Hampden Park, you will lead and inspire the kitchen team, ensuring exceptional food production and services that meet the highest standards expected by our venue partners and guests. You'll oversee all kitchen operations, from managing financial processes to embedding a culture of safety, diversity, and inclusivity. With a focus on innovation, you'll plan and create seasonal menus for a variety of events, from intimate meetings to large-scale stadium functions, all while driving efficiencies. You will also collaborate with senior leadership to meet key performance and profit targets, build relationships with suppliers, and elevate Hampden Park's culinary offering to a best-in-class experience for every occasion.

The ideal candidate will have proven experience in a similar environment, be customer facing, and have a passion for innovation, who is skilled in fresh food delivery and passionate about food. This strategic role in a high-volume hospitality setting is ideal for a highly organized and creative culinary professional.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead, motivate, and manage a high-performing kitchen team, ensuring standards are consistently met.
• Achieve financial targets through effective budget planning, forecasting, and stock management.
• Control costs by driving efficiencies, particularly in labour and operations.
• Manage business risks, contract delivery, and client relationships in a structured manner.
• Ensure all food safety documentation is up-to-date, and team members are fully trained.
• Develop continuous improvement plans for product innovation and culinary excellence.
• Align strategies with overall business goals and adapt to market and client demand changes.
• Maintain high client and customer satisfaction through exceptional food quality and service.
• Build strong client relationships, fostering trust and mutual respect.
• Manage P&L effectively, ensuring financial targets are exceeded and business operations run smoothly.
• Identify and convert opportunities for organic growth.
• Foster high team engagement and talent development, ensuring strong succession planning.
• Achieve high audit standards, passing Safeguard audits, Unit Business Health Checks, and Mystery Shops.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

You will be an exceptional Executive Head Chef with extensive menu development expertise and previous experience of working in both large and fine dining venue establishments. You will have strong creative skills with experience in identifying target audiences. You will also have a strong understanding of the financial elements of the role and possess good leadership skills and the ability to deliver the quality of service that will contribute to the overall guest experience.

You will also have:

• High standard of literacy and numeracy.
• Expertly manage senior client relationships.
• Highly developed verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
• Proven experience in managing P&L accounts and driving profitability.
• Management of large and diverse teams, premium restaurants and sporting market.
• Manage multiple workloads and shifting priorities.
• Demonstrate resilience when faced with multiple business challenges.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively with customers, clients and employees at all levels.
• Background in conference and events.
• Good knowledge of food safety, health & safety requirements.
• Self-motivated and able to work on own initiative within a team environment.
• Lead on innovation new concepts and food standards for venue aligned to business strategy.
• Fine Dining Experience.
• A passionate energetic individual who loves cooking and delivering seasonal, on-trend food.

WHAT WE OFFER

You will be rewarded with a salary of up to £60,000pa + access to a range of benefits, including a performance-related bonus, employer pension contribution, and life assurance - 1 x annual salary.

• Flexible benefits fund of £1,300 to utilise across an array of benefits.
• A flexible and dynamic work environment, fostering work-life balance.
• Competitive compensation, recognizing your valuable contributions.
• Access to ongoing training and development programs, empowering you to grow professionally.
• Countless opportunities to grow within the company, supporting your career progression.

We also offer Sodexo Discounts site promoting discounted mobile phone tariffs, savings across restaurant chains and days out, where you and your family can save money on everything from your weekly food shop to the latest cinema blockbuster and much more!

By joining Sodexo Live!, you will be part of something greater, working in an environment that fosters innovation and supports your professional growth.

We're experience makers and food fanatics. Our experiences are unique, and so are our people. Bring personality, your background and your desire for delighting others. In return we'll give you all you need to thrive because at Sodexo Live! We're so much more. Be part of something greater.

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. We run a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.