Our client operates the city's waterfront event campus – including an interconnected arena, conference centre, and exhibition centre - as well as a ticketing agency and hotel. Playing a leading role in shining a spotlight on the city, they have successfully staged a wide array of national and international events, from shows and conventions, business gatherings to exhibitions, developing their offer over the last decade to that of a world-class provider of venue and event services.
Company Benefits
The successful candidate will lead the culinary strategy and delivery across our client's Sports and Entertainment culinary operations, ensuring innovation, consistency and compliance while delivering exceptional guest experiences. This role provides leadership, vision and operational excellence across all kitchen teams, embedding a "One Team" culture and aligning culinary delivery with commercial objectives.
The ideal candidate will have experience of:
- Opening new hospitality operations in arenas, stadiums or large venues.
- Building systems, teams, menus and workflows from the ground up within established organisations.
- Transitioning from outsourced to in-house catering models.
- Designing and implementing operational frameworks.
- Developing cost-effective procurement and supplier relationships.
- Specifying and commissioning equipment, planning kitchen layouts and ensuring regulatory compliance.
Main duties include:
- Leading menu development and culinary innovation across retail and hospitality services.
- Ensuring food quality, presentation and consistency meet brand standards.
- Managing and mentoring Sous Chefs and kitchen teams.
- Overseeing stock control, menu costing, portion control and waste reduction.
- Ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation including Health & Safety, Food Safety, Allergen Management, COSHH, Environmental Health and Fire Safety.
- Collaborating with F&B leadership to align culinary delivery with operational and commercial goals.
- Driving efficiency to achieve labour and food cost targets.
- Acting on guest feedback to continuously improve standards.
- Maintaining supplier relationships and supporting event delivery.
- Support event planning and execution, ensuring seamless integration of culinary services.
Our client values the behaviours, attitudes and skills that support success in this role. They are looking for someone who:
- Leads kitchen teams with professionalism, positivity and accountability.
- Delivers high-quality food consistently at scale.
- Remains calm, organised and solutions-focused under pressure.
- Champions a guest-first mindset and adapts to diverse audiences.
- Drives creativity and menu innovation while meeting commercial targets.
- Communicates effectively across departments.
- Maintains rigorous food safety, HACCP, Allergen Management Hygiene, compliance standards.
- Demonstrates strong cost control, planning and operational discipline.
In addition to the above, the candidate will need to be enthusiastic, like minded and complement their experienced and talented team. If you have drive, passion, ambition and wish to play a part in our client's continuing success story this could be just the job for you.
Please note, our client may close this vacancy before the stated closing date if they receive sufficient applications for the position. Therefore, if you are interested in this position, please submit your application form as soon as possible.
Closing Date: 16 January 2026
Interview Date: TBC
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Our client knows the value of having a diverse and representative team across their organisation. They promote equal opportunities and are committed to having an inclusive work force where everybody feels respected, are treated fairly and diversity is celebrated. As such they strongly encourage and welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates from all members of the community regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.
