Development Chef in Liverpool

About the role

We have an exciting opportunity for a Development Chef to join our Liverpool FC team.

As Development Chef, you will immerse yourself in a dynamic and innovative environment where culinary creativity and passion are at the forefront of product development. With a strong focus on culinary trends and product innovation, you will have the opportunity to showcase your skills, collaborate with a diverse range of stakeholders, and bring new product ideas to life in the kitchen. By working in the Central Production kitchen, you will be part of a supportive and collaborative culture that values personal growth and development, offering opportunities for training, upskilling, and exposure to a wide range of culinary experiences.

What will you be doing?

• Develop innovative menu ideas, food concepts and product ranges.
• Research culinary trends and translate insights into new ideas for menus and products.
• Present findings, run tastings and deliver product showcases for key stakeholders.
• Create new and exclusive food concepts that support the club's wider catering offer.
• Write clear, consistent recipes that can be followed across relevant teams and food categories.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including the Executive Head Chef and Retail Catering team.
• Ensure that products align with club goals, customer expectations and operational requirements.
• Support menu development for matchdays, day-to-day catering and retail food products.
• Comply with all uniform standards as required by legislation and Liverpool FC.
• Support the recruitment of the kitchen brigade, including full-time and casual colleagues, in line with company and statutory standards.
• Carry out annual performance reviews with direct reports, ensuring objectives are clear and well defined.
• Work closely with the hospitality, tourism and events teams to support the delivery of an excellent customer experience.
• Inspire and motivate the kitchen brigade to deliver high-quality food in line with specifications, while supporting budgeted sales and profit targets.
• Attend departmental meetings as required and contribute positively as part of the management team.
• Regularly review the quality and pricing of food suppliers to build strong partnerships and ensure the right products are in place. Suppliers should be audited before appointment and annually thereafter.
• Meet prospective and existing clients attending events to support the sales process and build effective relationships.

Who are we looking for?

• Proven current experience as a professional chef, within a busy, multi-site stadium or sports environment.
• Ability to create and deliver high-quality, innovative recipes across a range of food categories.
• Strong knowledge of culinary techniques, flavour profiles, ingredients and food trends, with the ability to turn insights into creative food concepts and menus.
• Confident using Microsoft Office, particularly PowerPoint, to create engaging presentations that inspire stakeholders and communicate new product development ideas.
• Excellent organisation, communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally and build positive relationships with managers, supervisors, colleagues and customers.
• Able to work efficiently in a fast-paced kitchen environment, manage time well, work under pressure and use your own initiative when required.
• High standards of hygiene, presentation and professionalism, with sound recipe-writing practices.
• Up-to-date knowledge of current food safety legislation, including allergen requirements and Natasha's Law.
• Creative approach to problem-solving, with the ability to innovate and stay up to date with changes across the food industry.
• Ability to plan and lead small events, with flexibility to work occasional evenings when required.

Desirable experience and skills:

• Experience in a similar role within a football stadium or sports venue.
• Experience working in a front-of-house environment.
• Ability to work to strict deadlines in a pressured environment.
• Budget-writing experience.
• Ability to speak an additional language.

Why should you apply?

This is a full-time, permanent role working 35 hours per week. Your main base will be our Anfield Stadium.

Please note, this vacancy may close early if we receive a high volume of applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

To reward your hard work and commitment we offer a competitive salary, 25 days holiday (plus 8 bank holidays and the option to purchase up to an additional 5 days) and access to our benefits kit bag which includes but not limited to:

• Contributory pension scheme matching up to 5.5%
• Life Assurance Cover
• Free financial guidance and mortgage advice
• Car salary sacrifice scheme for affordable driving
• Cycle to Work scheme to keep you active
• Purchase season ticket loans for easier commuting
• Exclusive shopping discounts & cashback with top retailers
• Will Writing Service for future planning
• Employee Assistance Programme for confidential support
• Medicash Health Cash Plan for everyday healthcare needs
• Volunteering opportunities to give back to the community
• Special LFC perks - retail discounts, partner offers, free LFCTV GO access, and priority tickets for matches, events & concerts