Head Chef

Job Description

Aramark UK is looking for a talented and passionate Head Chef to lead the culinary operation at AFC Wimbledon Training Ground. This is an exciting opportunity to work within an elite sporting environment, delivering high-quality, fresh, and performance-focused meals that support the health, wellbeing, and performance of first-team players, academy athletes, and club staff. Working closely with football, medical, and performance teams, you will play a vital role in creating a first-class dining experience that reflects both Aramark's standards and AFC Wimbledon’s professional culture.

Reporting to the General Manager, the successful candidate will take full responsibility for the day-to-day management of the kitchen, ensuring exceptional food quality, operational efficiency, and compliance with all food safety and hygiene standards. You will combine strong culinary expertise with effective leadership, managing resources, controlling costs, and fostering a positive kitchen culture. This role is ideal for an experienced Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about delivering outstanding food in a unique performance-driven setting.

What's in it for you:

• Permanent role
• 40 hours per week
• Weekday and weekend role
• £40,000 year
• You will have access to PerkBox - which includes 100's of discounts, including savings on your weekly supermarket shop and weekend treats.
• We also offer a company package including life assurance, pension contributions, generous holiday entitlement with the option to buy more, and many more perks.
• You will also be joining a talented team, with fabulous career prospects that could lead to all sorts of opportunities – we LOVE to promote from within.
• We are passionate about developing our people from within; great training and development is available. We also offer apprenticeship schemes, so that your learning journey can continue.

Job Responsibilities

 Lead the delivery of high-quality, fresh, and performance-focused food that meets the nutritional needs of first-team players, academy athletes, and club staff.

 Develop and implement seasonal menus aligned with training schedules, match preparation, recovery requirements, and individual dietary needs.

 Manage all kitchen operations, including food production, stock control, ordering, wastage management, and budget performance.

 Ensure full compliance with food safety, hygiene, allergen management, HACCP procedures, and all relevant health and safety legislation.

 Organise staffing levels, rotas, and daily workflows to deliver an efficient and consistent catering service with a lean team.

 Lead, coach, and develop kitchen team members, fostering a positive, professional, and high-performing culture.

 Build strong working relationships with AFC Wimbledon’s football, academy, medical, and performance teams, responding proactively to feedback and operational requirements.

 Maintain exceptional standards of food quality, presentation, cleanliness, and service while upholding Aramark UK’s values, brand standards, and commitment to operational excellence.

Key Requirements:

• Proven experience as a Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef within a high-quality catering, hospitality, or contract catering environment.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to motivate, develop, and manage a small team effectively.
• Excellent knowledge of food safety, hygiene, HACCP, and allergen management, with a commitment to maintaining the highest compliance standards.
• Experience managing food costs, stock control, ordering processes, and kitchen budgets to achieve operational and financial targets.
• Ability to deliver fresh, high-quality food in a fast-paced environment while maintaining exceptional standards of presentation and consistency.
• Flexible and organised approach, with the ability to work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders and adapt to the demands of a high-performance sporting environment.

About Aramark

At Aramark UK, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone is valued and empowered to thrive. As a proud Disability Confident employer, we actively encourage applications from individuals of all abilities and are dedicated to supporting employees with disabilities throughout their career journey.

We ensure our recruitment process is accessible, and reasonable adjustments are available at every stage, from application to interview and employment. If you require any accommodations or have any questions, please reach out to our recruitment team – [email protected]

Join us in fostering a workplace where everyone can achieve their full potential.