Head Chef in Rotherham

At Rotherham United FC, part of Elior Stadia, we serve up epic matchday meals, gourmet hospitality, and fast, fresh stadium snacks - so fans can focus on the action while we handle the flavour.

What you’ll be doing… We are seeking a passionate and experienced Head Chef to lead our kitchen team and deliver exceptional culinary experiences at Rotherham United Club. The ideal candidate will drive innovation, maintain the highest standards of food quality, and inspire their team to exceed expectations. As Head Chef, you will oversee all kitchen operations across match days, events, hospitality, and conferences—ensuring efficiency, compliance, and excellence in every dish served.

• Lead, manage, and motivate the kitchen team to ensure consistently high performance.
• Recruit, train, and develop team members to deliver exceptional service standards.
• Foster a positive, professional, and collaborative working environment.

Menu Development:

• Design innovative and appealing menus catering to members, corporate clients, and event guests.
• Ensure all dishes meet high standards in presentation, portion control, and flavour.
• Adapt menus in line with seasonal ingredients, match-day demands, and business objectives.

Operational Management:

• Oversee daily kitchen operations, ensuring smooth and efficient workflows.
• Manage stock control, ordering, and supplier relationships within budget parameters.
• Maintain kitchen equipment and ensure exemplary hygiene and cleanliness standards.
• Control food costs, margins, and waste to maximise profitability.
• Monitor kitchen performance against financial targets and implement improvements as required.
• Evaluate supplier performance to ensure cost-effective and quality-driven procurement.

Health & Safety Compliance:

• Ensure strict adherence to food safety, hygiene, and health regulations.
• Conduct regular audits, risk assessments, and staff training to maintain compliance.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Customer Focus:

• Work closely with front-of-house and events teams to deliver exceptional customer experiences.
• Respond proactively to customer feedback to refine menus and service quality.
• Support hospitality offerings for match days, corporate events, and private functions.

Working Pattern: 5 Days Out of 7 | 37.5 Hours Per Week

What can you bring?

• Proven experience as a Head Chef or in a senior kitchen leadership role.
• Strong culinary expertise with knowledge of diverse cuisines and large-scale catering.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organisational skills.
• Ability to perform under pressure while maintaining exceptional standards.
• Strong understanding of budget management, GP control, and food cost optimisation.
• In-depth knowledge of food safety and hygiene regulations (e.g., HACCP certification).

Brilliant Work Deserves Brilliant Perks! At Elior, we believe that when you love where you work, it shows. That’s why we make sure our team feels appreciated, supported, and set up for success!

• Free, tasty meals - Enjoy tasty, nutritious food on us while you work!
• Flexible working - including part time roles, because life doesn’t run on a 9-5 schedule.
• Plenty of Time to Unwind - 28 days of holiday, and after two years, enjoy even more with 31 days.
• Leave for life’s important moments - whether family, personal or unexpected.
• Give back time - paid volunteering days for the causes you care about.
• Room to grow - career development and learning opportunities for all stages of your career.
• Financial security - pension schemes and life assurance.
• Exclusive discounts - save on entertainment, leisure, and even travel!

We’re a people-first business with over 10,000 colleagues across the UK, serving everything from stadiums to hospitals, schools to workplaces. Our mission? To enrich lives everywhere, every day. And here’s the best part - 87% of our team say they’re proud to work here!

Not sure you match every single requirement? Apply anyway! Research shows that many people - especially women and those from underrepresented backgrounds - hold back unless they meet 100% of the criteria. But we hire for potential, not just experience. If you’re passionate and ready to grow, we want to hear from you!

At Elior, diversity and inclusion aren’t just policies, they’re who we are. We know that different perspectives make us stronger, and we’re dedicated to creating an environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and empowered to succeed.

Need any support or adjustments during the application process? Just let us know - we’re happy to help!

Ready to join us? Hit ‘Apply Now’ and let’s chat!