Kitchen Manager

Aramark UK have an incredible opportunity for a dynamic inspirational hospitality leader to join us as Kitchen Manager at Everton Football Club. The impressive brand-new Bramley-Moore Liverpool stadium is set to be one of the most revolutionary and advanced venues for fan experience in Europe. Serving 52,888 fans per matchday, the mission is to set the standard for excellence and create exceptional experiences for Evertonians.

The Kitchen Manager will work closely with Culinary Director, Stadia Executive Chef, departmental Head Chefs and Head of Logistics to support with the delivery of our kitchen operation in the new Everton Football Club.

This is a detail focused role, crucial to the mobilisation of the stadium and wider BAU operations. The role holder will take ownership of implementation of our OpX system and its day to day updating and maintenance. With a variety of offerings across the stadium from fine dining to grab and go.

This is a full time and permanent position which will be based the stunning, new, Everton Stadium, due to open for the new season in August 2025.

What’s in it for you:

• Competitive salary
• Permanent position with the requirement to work both weekdays and weekends where necessary to manage the retail operations during match games, concerts and more
• Generous annual leave that increases in line with service, with the opportunity to buy extra
• Defined contribution pension scheme and life assurance benefits
• Access to an employee benefit scheme that offers discounts across hundreds of retail and leisure providers
• Employee Assistance Programme and in-house Mental Health Champions
• FOOD! A plethora of opportunities to attend in-house events and try out the culinary genius of our teams (we are a food business after all!)

Key Responsibilities:

Mobilisation:

• Implement the OpX system and prepare it for menu creation to accurately reflect our dishes nutritional and allergen information
• You will input menu data and ensure that allergens and nutritional information is accurate and continually analyse our menu offering for ways to improve our GP.
• In addition, the Kitchen Manager will create specification books outlining plating diagrams, weights and measurements, allergen information to ensure that we are delivering consistency and compliance across our kitchens.
• The Kitchen Manager will manage the smooth integration between our Point of Sale and back of house systems to ensure that stock is being managed correctly within the business.
• Ensuring we stay fully compliant with all nutrition information to comply with legal requirements around calorific values on menus and signage
• Develop strong relationships with procurement, logistics and third-party suppliers to ensure that product quality, stock control and stock holding is adhered to
• Support with the setup of the kitchens making sure they are adaptable and highly functional to support with speed of service, safety and easy to maintain to the highest standards

Business as usual:

• Driving discipline in consistency and compliancy across the operation to prevent ‘rogue’ items appearing in the system
• Creation of central ‘build sheets’ for all parties to coordinate detail surrounding the sales of food and beverage
• Identify and offer solutions to GP margin improvement through understanding of the real time operation and data sources such as OpX and Aratrade
• To feed information to the operation that allows the business operators to drive margin improvement.
• Providing good and relevant data to the operators and business leaders with the objective of managing margin more proficiently
• Offering advice and support with new menu costing for both food and beverage, supporting through the information provided by market sources and organisation operating systems.
• Acting as a conduit for food and beverage control between our IT POS (Point of Sale) systems and back of house systems such as OpX to ensure a smooth, efficient, and accurate transition to the guest facing ‘tills’
• Ownership of the day-to-day delivery of consistent and exceptional product quality and service standards to achieve, and ideally exceed department targets, and grow our reputation for celebrated customer experiences.
• To provide continual administrative support to the senior kitchen teams including but not limited to ordering, rotas, invoice management, health and safety paperwork, compliance paperwork and team training schedules etc.
• Drive our guest focused culture through consistently demonstrating an in-depth knowledge and appreciation of hospitality standards and client needs, that is infections throughout your team.
• Extensive knowledge of food handling and food safety standards that comply with UK law on food safety. You will prioritise regular checks through yourself and your team throughout your department including, but not limited to, fridge/freezer temperatures, food probing at delivery and cooking, hot holding and ensuring that food is stored and used on a first in first out basis and that date checks are completed daily.
• Stock management including stock ordering, stock usage, wastage and waste recording is imperative to ensure that you are not holding excessive stock that could perish. You will complete regular line checks and full stock checks on an event by event to deliver in line with company expectations.
• Ability to manage labour cost, food costs not to impact on profit potential or be detrimental to service delivery.
• Produce standard operating procedures for all menu dishes, accompanied by plate build with agreed standards and relevant compliance in all areas including allergens
• Responsible for food hygiene, COSHH and due diligence systems are always complied with, reporting issues to the HOC as required

People:

• Ensure that effective and robust recruitment plans and processes exist to source and deploy large volumes of casual workers per differing event requirements.
• Develop training programs to ensure staff are equipped to provide exceptional service to retail outlets.
• Work closely with the management team to develop and sustain a high level of team energy and engagement, focused on great food and hospitality.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and talent management / succession planning activity, based on agreed and measurable KPI’s.
• Continuously seek feedback and make improvements to enhance the guest experience.
• Responsible for ensuring all the pastry kitchen team is trained to the Aramark standards
• Ensure the nutritional philosophy is present across all sites, with focus on new food trends and innovation

Systems of Work:

• To manage the procurement systems ensuring all users submit invoices and documentation within the agreed timescales
• Manage the integration between OpX, Back of house systems and POS
• Scheduling systems and proficient in Excel

Key Requirements:

• A naturally confident leader, with senior management experience to inspire a large kitchen team to deliver results.
• Ability to communicate effectively on both sides of the pass to ensure open and positive communication between front and back of house teams.
• Extensive experience in pastry operations environment
• Positive and passionate focus on food – a natural flare for hospitality
• Trained to Level 3 food safety (desired)
• Previous P&L accountability and evidence of commercial nous
• Exudes confidence, energy and charisma.
• Can effectively switch between being the leader and a team player according to the situation at hand.
• Structured approach but also demonstrates flexibility and agility.
• Calm and resilient.
• Problem solving skills.
• Willing to work evenings and weekends as required.
• To lead a safe & hygienic operation, complying with all Company & legislative requirements, driving excellence in safety performance.

About Aramark UK

Aramark is a leading service and solutions provider in the UK. We proudly support clients, partners and customers in food, facilities management, property services, and retail solutions. We believe a career should develop your talents, fuel your passions, and empower your professional growth. So, no matter what you’re pursuing — a new challenge, a sense of belonging, or just a great place to work — our focus is helping you reach your full potential. Learn more about working here at http://www.aramarkcareers.com

All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. Aramark UK is an equal opportunities employer.