At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead culinary innovation and menu development at Newcastle United FC, creating unforgettable dining experiences.
- Company: Join Sodexo Live! at one of the world's most iconic football clubs.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, free meals, onsite parking, and excellent health benefits.
- Other info: Flexible work environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of food in a vibrant stadium environment and inspire culinary teams.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in high-volume premium hospitality and strong culinary innovation skills.
Newcastle United Football Club, St James Park, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4ST
40hrs pw 5/7 £45,000pa + excellent bonus and benefits
Free onsite parking
Level 3 Food Hygiene essential
Free meals on duty
At Sodexo Live!, we create exceptional moments, and at one of the most iconic football clubs in the world, food plays a huge part in that experience. We are now looking for a visionary, commercially minded and creatively driven Head of Culinary Experience & Innovation Chef to lead menu strategy and culinary development across Newcastle United Football Club.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced culinary leader to shape the future of food across premium hospitality, fan dining, retail and event catering operations within a world-class stadium environment.
As Head of Culinary Experience & Innovation Chef, you’ll lead all menu engineering, culinary development and food innovation for Sodexo Live! at Newcastle United FC. You’ll design exceptional, commercially successful and operationally effective menus across every outlet, from fine dining hospitality and lounges to retail and grab-and-go concepts, for both matchday and non-matchday experiences.
We’re looking for a passionate culinary innovator with proven experience in high-volume premium environments and the creativity to push boundaries while delivering operational excellence. Most importantly, you’ll be passionate about creating memorable culinary experiences that excite guests, support business growth and showcase the very best of Sodexo Live!
If you thrive on innovation, love turning food trends into memorable guest experiences, and have the operational excellence to deliver at scale, we’d love to hear from you.
What You'll Do:
- Lead the development of trend-led, seasonal and fully costed menus across all culinary areas
- Create structured menu cycles and innovative food concepts that keep guest experiences fresh and exciting
- Build detailed recipe specifications, SOPs and culinary playbooks to ensure consistency and operational excellence
- Ensure all dishes are fully compliant with allergen, nutritional and sustainability standards through Kafoodle
- Drive menu engineering strategies to maximise ingredient utilisation, reduce waste and improve profitability
- Collaborate closely with operations, procurement and finance teams to optimise supply chain efficiency and commercial performance
- Champion local sourcing and sustainable food practices aligned with Sodexo Live! and NUFC food philosophy
- Deliver tastings, presentations and menu showcases for clients and stakeholders
- Monitor food trends and translate them into innovative and engaging guest experiences
- Support and inspire culinary teams, helping develop capability, engagement and career progression
- Maintain exceptional standards in food safety, HACCP and health & safety compliance
- Contribute to the continued growth, reputation and success of Sodexo Live! within the stadia and events sector
What You Bring:
- Proven experience at Head Chef or Development Chef level within stadia, hotels, large venues or premium hospitality environments
- A strong background in menu development, culinary innovation and food presentation
- Commercial awareness with experience managing food cost, margin and profitability
- The ability to engineer menus that balance creativity, quality and operational efficiency
- Strong understanding of allergens, nutrition, sustainability and food compliance standards
- Experience using culinary or recipe management systems such as Kafoodle
- A guest-first mindset and passion for delivering exceptional food experiences
- Excellent organisational, communication and stakeholder management skills
- The confidence to influence, inspire and collaborate across multiple teams
- Resilience and adaptability within fast-paced, high-profile environments
- NVQ Level 3 in Culinary Arts or equivalent qualification
- Level 4 Food Safety & Hygiene qualification (preferred)
What we offer:
- Unlimited access to an online platform offering mental health and wellbeing support.
- Employee Assistance Programme to help with everyday issues or larger problems where you may need additional support, including legal and financial advice, support with work related issues or personal issues such as bereavement.
- Access to a free health and wellbeing app that provides rewards for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and includes access to a 24hr virtual GP and various other services.
- The Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering great deals 24/7 (also open to friends and family) and/or the prepayment cashback card.
- Money Insights and financial benefits via the Salary Finance Platform.
- Save for your future by becoming a member of the Sodexo Retirement Plan
- A Death-in-Service benefit for colleagues who pass away whilst employed by Sodexo
- Opportunities to enable colleagues to grow and succeed throughout their career at Sodexo, including a variety of learning and development tools.
- Cycle to Work Scheme to help colleagues to do their bit for the environment whilst keeping fit.
- Volunteering Opportunities to enable all colleagues to help support worthwhile causes in our communities.
- Flexible and dynamic work environment
Ready to be part of something greater? Apply today!
Sodexo reserves the right to close this advertisement early if we are in receipt of a high volume of applications.
At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better every day for everyone to build a better life for all. As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100 million consumers each day through our unique combination of On-Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer. We are a forces friendly employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds, and identities. We encourage our employees to get involved with our Employee Networks such as Pride, Sodexo Parents & Carers, Sodexo Disability, Ability network, So Together, Generations and Origins.
We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer. We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations.
Head of Culinary Experience and Innovation in Newcastle upon Tyne employer: Sodexo
Sodexo Live! offers an exceptional work environment at the iconic St James Park, where culinary innovation meets a passion for creating memorable guest experiences. With a strong focus on employee wellbeing, professional growth opportunities, and a commitment to sustainability, you will thrive in a dynamic team that values creativity and operational excellence. Enjoy competitive benefits, including free meals on duty, mental health support, and a flexible work culture that encourages collaboration and personal development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Culinary Experience and Innovation in Newcastle upon Tyne
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend culinary events, and engage with professionals on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your culinary creativity! Prepare a portfolio showcasing your best menu designs and innovative dishes. When you get that interview, bring it along to impress them with your vision and passion for culinary excellence.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to talk about your experience and how you can elevate their culinary offerings. Tailor your conversation to highlight your skills in menu engineering and food innovation, making sure they see you as the perfect fit.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Sodexo Live! team at Newcastle United FC. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Culinary Experience and Innovation in Newcastle upon Tyne
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Culinary Innovation:When writing your application, let your love for culinary creativity shine through! Share specific examples of how you've pushed boundaries in menu development and created memorable dining experiences.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience in high-volume premium environments. We want to see how your background aligns with the role of Head of Culinary Experience & Innovation!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to see your key achievements and skills at a glance.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows us you're serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sodexo
✨Know Your Culinary Trends
Before the interview, dive deep into current culinary trends and innovations. Be prepared to discuss how you can incorporate these trends into menu development at Newcastle United FC. Show them that you’re not just aware of what’s hot in the culinary world, but that you can also creatively apply it to enhance guest experiences.
✨Showcase Your Menu Engineering Skills
Bring examples of your previous menu designs or concepts to the interview. Discuss how you’ve successfully balanced creativity with operational efficiency in high-volume environments. This will demonstrate your ability to lead menu strategy effectively and show that you understand the commercial aspects of culinary innovation.
✨Highlight Your Team Leadership Experience
As a Head of Culinary Experience, you’ll need to inspire and support your team. Share specific examples of how you’ve developed culinary talent in your previous roles. Talk about how you’ve fostered collaboration across teams, as this is crucial for optimising supply chain efficiency and enhancing overall performance.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in real-world scenarios. For instance, how would you handle a sudden change in food trends or a supply chain issue? Think through your responses ahead of time, focusing on your adaptability and resilience in fast-paced environments, which are key for this role.
