Development Chef

Job Introduction

Development Chef

• Newcastle United Football Club, St James Park
• £40,000pa + excellent bonus and benefits  
• Great family/work life balance!
• 5/7 mostly 08.00 to 16.30 but flexibility essential depending on football fixtures

Job Introduction 

Are you a culinary innovator with a passion for high-end food experiences? Are you ready to lead and elevate hospitality at one of the UK’s most iconic sporting venues?

Sodexo Live! has a fantastic opportunity for a Development Chef to join our award-winning team at St James' Park, Newcastle United Football Club. This is your chance to shape the culinary future of a world-class venue.

Home of Newcastle United Football Club, St. James’ Park stands as Newcastle's iconic landmark and a premier destination in the Northeast, offering some of the most expansive, state-of-the-art facilities for meetings, conferences, and events of all scales. This role offers an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact within a renowned venue celebrated for its vibrant atmosphere and prestige.

We are seeking a highly motivated and passion-driven Development Chef to join our dynamic culinary team. This is a unique opportunity for a creative chef to lead the development and execution of innovative food offerings that cater to the evolving tastes and preferences of our diverse clientele

What You'll Do:

• Lead the development of innovative food concepts and menus that reflect emerging trends and wow our guests.

• Work closely with the Executive Head Chef to deliver excellence across match days, events, tastings, and fine dining operations.

• Maintain exceptional food quality, hygiene, and safety standards in line with company and statutory regulations.

• Own and implement culinary development plans, ensuring NUFC remains at the forefront of culinary innovation.

• Drive cost efficiencies through smart purchasing, labour control, and budget management.

• Act as a key contact for client-facing tastings and presentations, championing our food with passion and flair.

• Lead, inspire and develop the culinary team, ensuring consistent training, development, and engagement.

What You Bring:

• Proven experience in fine dining or high-end volume catering environments

• A creative mindset and a track record of food innovation

• IOSH Managing Safely & CIEH Level 3 (or working towards)

• Strong leadership, communication, and organisational skills

• Experience managing budgets and achieving financial targets

• A collaborative, flexible, and can-do attitude

What we offer:

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it’s a chance to be part of something greater. You’ll belong in a company and team that values you for you; you’ll act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions; and you’ll be able to thrive in your own way. In addition, we also offer a range of resources, rewards and benefits for our colleagues and their families:

• 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 
• Competitive compensation 
• Full training and full protective uniform supplied.

Ready to be part of something greater? Apply today! Career progression for the caring profession.

Sodexo reserves the right to close this advertisement early if we are in receipt of a high volume of applications.

About Sodexo 

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.

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.

Click here to read more about what we do to promote an inclusive culture.