Head Chef - Retail

Aramark UK have an incredible opportunity for a dynamic inspirational hospitality leader to join us as Head Chef at Everton Football Club for our Retail Dining outlets. The impressive brand-new Bramley-Moore Liverpool stadium is set to be one of the most revolutionary and advanced venues for fan experience in Europe. Serving 52,888 fans per matchday, the mission is to set the standard for excellence and create exceptional experiences for Evertonians.

Reporting to the Executive Stadia Chef and Culinary Director, the Head Chef for retail outlets will take full ownership of the coordination and delivery of an exceptional culinary experience, within Everton stadium, the fan zone and wider concourse operations.

You will come with a passion for food and a great understanding of quick service retail dining gained from a similar role.

This role is crucial in ensuring that all our retail and quick service dining offerings including, street food, match day favourites and grab and go are delivered with the highest standards of health and safety, quality, creativity and consistency.

This is a full time and permanent position which will be based the stunning, new, Everton Stadium, due to open for the new season in August 2025.

What’s in it for you:

• Competitive salary
• Permanent position with the requirement to work both weekdays and weekends where necessary to manage the retail operations during match games, concerts and more
• Generous annual leave that increases in line with service, with the opportunity to buy extra
• Defined contribution pension scheme and life assurance benefits
• Access to an employee benefit scheme that offers discounts across hundreds of retail and leisure providers
• Employee Assistance Programme and in-house Mental Health Champions
• FOOD! A plethora of opportunities to attend in-house events and try out the culinary genius of our teams (we are a food business after all!)

Key Responsibilities:

Mobilisation:

• During mobilisation you will support with the creation of retail menus, product sourcing, menu costing and set up of the kitchen spaces that promotes ease of use and quick service
• Create specification cards, develop health and safety processes for the kitchens including cleaning rotas, standard operating procedures, ideal staffing rotas, training manuals and operational processes for business as usual
• You will build team structure for service, support with recruitment and training for permanent team members and implement a culture of continual feedback and development that will ensure we are set for success on opening
• Develop strong relationships with procurement, logistics and third-party suppliers to ensure that product quality, stock control and stock holding is adhered to
• Support with the setup of the kitchens making sure they are adaptable and highly functional to support with speed of service, safety and easy to maintain to the highest standards

Business as usual:

• Food Production & Operational Delivery of all retail outlets across the stadium
• Ownership of the day-to-day delivery of consistent and exceptional product quality and service standards to achieve, and ideally exceed department targets, and grow our reputation for celebrated customer experiences
• Drive our guest focused culture through consistently demonstrating an in-depth knowledge and appreciation of hospitality standards and client needs, that is infections throughout your team
• Extensive knowledge of food handling and food safety standards that comply with UK law on food safety. You will prioritise regular checks through yourself and your team throughout your department including, but not limited to, fridge/freezer temperatures, food probing at delivery and cooking, hot holding and ensuring that food is stored and used on a first in first out basis and that date checks are completed daily
• Stock management including stock ordering, stock usage, wastage and waste recording is imperative to ensure that you are not holding excessive stock that could perish. You will complete regular line checks and full stock checks on a event by event basis to deliver in line with company expectations.
• Ability to manage labour cost, food costs not to impact on profit potential or be detrimental to service delivery
• Ensure that effective and robust recruitment plans and processes exist to source and deploy large volumes of casual workers per differing event requirements
• Develop training programs to ensure staff are equipped to provide exceptional service to food retail outlets
• Work closely with the management team to develop and sustain a high level of team energy and engagement, focused on great food and hospitality
• Conduct regular performance reviews and talent management / succession planning activity, based on agreed and measurable KPI’s
• Ensure the nutritional philosophy is present across all sites, with focus on new food trends and innovation
• To manage the procurement systems ensuring all users submit invoices and documentation within the agreed timescales
• Responsible for retail staffing planners and weekly labour, producing schedules, closing off rota’s and providing variable staffing requirements in line with budget

Key Requirements:

• A naturally confident leader, with senior management experience to inspire a large kitchen team to deliver results
• Ability to communicate effectively on both sides of the pass to ensure open and positive communication between front and back of house teams
• Extensive experience in food retail operations environment preferred
• Positive and passionate focus on food – a natural flare for hospitality
• Trained to Level 3 food safety (desired)
• Previous P&L accountability and evidence of commercial nous
• Exudes confidence, energy and charisma
• Can effectively switch between being the leader and a team player according to the situation at hand
• Structured approach but also demonstrates flexibility and agility.
• Calm and resilient
• Problem solving skills
• Willing to work evenings and weekends as required.
• To lead a safe & hygienic operation, complying with all Company & legislative requirements, driving excellence in safety performance

About Aramark UK

Aramark is a leading service and solutions provider in the UK. We proudly support clients, partners and customers in food, facilities management, property services, and retail solutions. We believe a career should develop your talents, fuel your passions, and empower your professional growth. So, no matter what you’re pursuing — a new challenge, a sense of belonging, or just a great place to work — our focus is helping you reach your full potential. Learn more about working here at http://www.aramarkcareers.com

All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. Aramark UK is an equal opportunities employer.