The Performance Chef is responsible for leading the planning, preparation, and delivery of world-class performance catering to support the health, wellbeing, recovery, and performance of players and staff across the football club. Working as an integral member of the multidisciplinary performance team, the role ensures that all food provision aligns with evidence-based sports nutrition strategies while maintaining the highest standards of culinary excellence, food safety, and operational efficiency. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES The role includes, but is not limited to:
- Lead the planning, preparation, and delivery of high-performance nutrition for first-team players, U21 players, and club staff, ensuring meals align with individual performance goals.
- Away travel to oversee hotel food provision and deliver travel food with the aim to optimise performance and recovery windows
- Design and implement specific menus in collaboration with the Performance Nutritionist and Head of Performance, taking into account training loads, match schedules, recovery needs, body composition goals, and medical requirements.
- Oversee all aspects of kitchen operations, including food production, presentation, quality assurance, hygiene, food safety, and compliance with relevant legislation.
- Manage food procurement, supplier relationships, stock control, and kitchen budgets, ensuring high-quality ingredients and cost-effective operations.
- Work closely with the multidisciplinary performance team-including nutritionists, sports scientists, medical staff, strength and conditioning coaches, and team management-to support player health, recovery, and performance.
- Develop recovery nutrition offerings, hydration stations, pre- and post-training meals, and matchday catering to optimise player performance.
- Supervise, mentor, and develop kitchen staff, promoting high standards of professionalism, efficiency, and continuous improvement.
- Monitor emerging trends and evidence-based practices in sports nutrition and performance catering, introducing innovative culinary techniques where appropriate.
- Coordinate with external catering providers and hotels to ensure club nutrition standards are maintained during travel and tournaments.
- Manage kitchen scheduling and operational planning to support changing training times, fixture congestion, and performance demands throughout the season., This document is a guide only and should not be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive. It is intended as an outline indication of the areas of activity and will be amended in the light of changing needs of the organisation. All employees may be required to undertake any other duties as may be reasonably requested.
Millwall Football Club are fully committed to equality, diversity, inclusion and anti-discrimination. We will work to address areas of under-representation and disadvantage in all aspects of our operations, activities and services. In practice, this means that we will respect the needs of each and every individual regardless of their differences; and to this end we will deliver our operations, activities and services in such a way so as to ensure that no one is excluded. Millwall Football Club is a Disability Confident Committed employer (Level 1). If you have a disability or long-term health condition and require any reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will work with you to accommodate your needs. 'Millwall FC is committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk. The successful candidate may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check through The FA DBS process. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining this post, as all cases are judged individually according to the nature of the role and information given.' Safeguarding Policy Statement Because of the nature of the work undertaken by The Millwall Football and Athletic Company (1985) Limited (MFC), it is required by law to have in place robust safeguarding policies and procedures to ensure the protection of children, young people and adults at risk. To ensure that MFC meets that duty - and as part of a proactive, integrated and consistent approach to safeguarding - the organisation has developed a Safeguarding Handbook. What is safeguarding? Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and protect them from harm. Safeguarding means protecting people from abuse, maltreatment, neglect, harm and/or exploitation. Through MFC setting up and following good safeguarding policies and procedures, it means that children, young people and adults at risk - that come into contact with our organisation - are protected from those that might pose a risk. All organisations that work with (or come into contact with) children, young people and adults at risk are required to have safeguarding policies and procedures to ensure that everyone - regardless of their age, gender, religion or ethnicity - can be protected from harm. MFC's Safeguarding Ethos MFC will always seek to provide protection to any person that receives our services. To this end MFC will provide staff and volunteers with guidance on procedures they should adopt in the event that they suspect a person may be experiencing, or be at risk of, harm. MFC believes that a no one should ever experience abuse of any kind. MFC have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk to keep them safe. MFC are committed to work in a way that protects them. This Safeguarding Policy Statement applies to everyone that comes into contact with MFC - including as applicable - the Board of Directors & Executive Team, Senior Managers, Staff, Agency Staff, Contractors, Suppliers, Volunteers, Students on work experience, as well as anyone else working on behalf of MFC. This policy also applies to any other person that engages with the work of MFC and includes parents, carers, families and other visitors to MFC premises. Safeguarding at MFC MFC places the safeguarding of children, young people and adults at risk as its prime focus and has developed full safeguarding policies and procedures. To underpin the approach, MFC ensures all of its management team, staff members and volunteers have been fully trained in safeguarding to enable the organisation to live and breathe its approach. In developing MFC's safeguarding policies and procedures, the organisation has adopted the following three-part safeguarding strategy which focuses on: 1. Getting the right people involved with MFC This is achieved through adherence to MFC's Safer Recruitment Policies and Procedures. 2. Creating a safe environment for children, young people & adults at risk This is achieved by providing all required safeguarding training, support and best practice advice; and further guidance by the effective communication of MFC's Codes of Conduct. 3. Promoting clear systems to deal with any safeguarding concerns This is achieved through implementation of all MFC's policies and procedures relating to safeguarding. A full copy of MFC's Safeguarding Handbook is available by speaking with (or contacting) the MFC person responsible for safeguarding.
Essential
- A positive, can-do attitude and genuine enthusiasm for the role
- Professionalism and discretion when working in a first team environment - the ability to build trust with players and staff is paramount
- NVQ Level 1 & 2 chef qualification
- Food Hygiene Level 3
- Full, clean UK driving licence
- Ability and willingness to travel extensively, including overnight stays and weekends
- Flexibility to work irregular hours including early mornings, evenings, and match days
- Strong work ethic and the ability to stay calm and organised under pressure
- Excellent personal hygiene and commitment to food safety standards
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