Vacancies

Head Chef- Aston Villa FC Training Ground

Job Introduction

Head Chef – Aston Villa FC Training Ground

Reports to: Venue Director

Aston Villa Key Relationships: Head of Nutrition, First Team Performance Staff and Catering Manager
Location: Aston Villa FC Training Ground – Bodymoor Heath
Sector: Levy UK

ROLE PURPOSE

The overall purpose of the Head Chef role at Aston Villa Football Club’s Training Ground is to lead and manage the culinary operations within this elite high-performance environment, ensuring the delivery of nutritionally balanced, innovative, and high-quality food to players, coaches, and staff.

This role focuses on producing menus that directly support athletic performance, recovery, and overall wellbeing, in collaboration with club nutritionists and performance staff. The Head Chef will also maintain the highest standards of food safety, hygiene, and sustainability while managing budgets, sourcing high-quality ingredients, and developing a motivated and cohesive kitchen team.

In addition, the Head Chef will support the Executive Performance Chef with first-team matchday catering at Villa Park, ensuring performance-driven menus are delivered seamlessly for home fixtures.

By combining culinary and management expertise, the Head Chef will play a key role in fuelling Aston Villa FC’s pursuit of success, contributing to the club’s philosophy: “Proud History, Bright Future.”

ABOUT BODYMOOR HEATH TRAINING GROUND

Aston Villa’s Bodymoor Heath Training Ground is one of the most advanced football training facilities in the country. It is home to the men’s and women’s first teams as well as the academy, serving as a central hub for player development, sports science, and elite performance. The kitchens and dining areas form a vital part of this environment, providing tailored, performance-focused nutrition that powers Aston Villa athletes every day.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Menu Planning and Development: Support, design and deliver nutritionally balanced menus tailored to the needs of professional athletes, ensuring meals align with performance, recovery, and wellness objectives set by club nutritionists.
• Food Preparation and Cooking: Lead by example in the preparation and cooking of meals, ensuring all food meets elite-level standards of taste, presentation, and nutritional value while adhering to food safety regulations.
• Team Leadership and Management: Lead, mentor, and manage the kitchen brigade, ensuring a professional, efficient, and positive working environment. Provide training on nutrition-led cooking techniques and standards relevant to an elite sports setting.
• Collaboration with Nutritionists and Performance Teams: Work closely with the club’s nutrition team, medical staff, and the performance department to align menus with dietary requirements, fuelling strategies, and recovery protocols.
• First-Team Player Matchday Support: Assist with the preparation and delivery of first team catering at Villa Park on matchdays, ensuring menus are performance-focused, nutritionally aligned, and delivered to the highest standards.
• Budget and Cost Control: Manage kitchen budgets effectively, maintaining cost efficiency without compromising quality or nutrition. Source seasonal, local, and sustainable produce wherever possible.
• Health, Safety and Hygiene Compliance: Ensure the kitchen consistently meets the highest standards of cleanliness, allergen management, food hygiene, and health and safety compliance. Conduct regular audits and inspections.
• Quality Assurance: Maintain consistent excellence in food quality and presentation. Monitor feedback and continuously seek ways to improve menus and dining experiences for players and staff.
• Event Support: Assist in catering for internal club events, meetings, or functions held at the training ground, delivering high-quality service appropriate to the occasion.
• Inventory and Stock Management: Oversee procurement, stock control, and storage of all ingredients and supplies, ensuring efficiency and minimisation of food waste.
• Culinary Innovation: Stay up to date with developments in culinary trends and sports nutrition. Introduce new techniques, ingredients, and approaches to keep menus exciting, relevant, and performance focused.
• Sustainability Leadership: Actively contribute to Levy UK’s Net Zero 2027 ambitions by implementing sustainable kitchen practices, reducing waste, and promoting environmentally conscious menu design.

• Line Manage Front of House: Manage the Front of House manager and oversee all operations, providing support where appropriate.
• Oversee all operational management: of the first team, women’s team, academy, and staff catering requirements.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• Professional Culinary Qualifications: Recognised culinary qualification (degree, diploma, or equivalent) from a respected culinary institution.
• Experience in High-Performance Environments: Proven track record as a Head Chef or senior culinary leader within elite sports, training facilities, high-performance centres, or premium hospitality.
• Leadership Skills: Strong leadership and mentoring abilities, with experience managing diverse teams in high-pressure environments.
• Sports Nutrition Knowledge: Be willing to be upskilled in nutrition principles for athletic performance, including designing menus to meet specific dietary and recovery requirements.
• Budget and Cost Control: Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, food costs, and procurement effectively without compromising quality.
• Food Safety and Compliance: Comprehensive knowledge of food safety regulations, hygiene standards, and allergen management, with a record of compliance at the highest levels.
• Creativity and Culinary Innovation: Ability to bring fresh ideas, variety, and innovation to menus while maintaining nutritional balance and performance alignment.
• Excellent Communication Skills: Effective interpersonal skills to work collaboratively with nutritionists, performance staff, and wider club teams.
• Flexibility and Adaptability: Willingness to work flexible hours in line with training schedules, match preparation, and club requirements. This may at times be at short notice.
• Passion for Culinary Excellence: Genuine passion for food, nutrition, and contributing to the success of Aston Villa Football Club through world-class culinary standards.