First Team Performance Chef

If you are a chef with experience cooking in a performance environment, this is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of a professional football club, directly supporting First team player preparation, performance and recovery through food.

As Performance Chef, you will lead the First team food provision for MK Dons FC, designing and cooking performance and recovery-focused meals alongside the club's Performance Nutritionist and sports science staff. Your food will support training loads, match performance and recovery, translating nutritional strategy into meals that are purposeful, performance-led and appealing to a diverse squad.

The role is based in the on-site hotel kitchen, where you will work with support from the hotel kitchen team to deliver the first-team food offering. You will also lead the front of house team, making sure service, presentation and the overall dining experience are of a consistently high standard.

You will engage with players and staff during meal service to make sure their needs are met, and you will help build a strong food culture around the First team.

Working hours are dictated by the football schedule, so the role will involve working weekends, evenings and bank holidays when required, including over the Christmas and New Year fixture period.

We're looking for someone credible, creative and passionate about performance nutrition - not just great food, but the right food.

Key Responsibilities

Design and deliver performance and recovery-focused menus aligned to training cycles, the fixture schedule and match demands

Plan and produce training ground, pre-match, match day and travel food provision, including snacks and recovery options

Cook from raw ingredients for First team breakfast, lunch and recovery meals in the on-site hotel kitchen

Work closely with the Performance Nutritionist to communicate the nutritional breakdown and purpose behind dishes

Tailor individual meals to player dietary needs, allergies and performance or recovery goals, in agreement with the Performance Nutritionist

Make day-to-day decisions on menus, service and staffing for the First team food provision

Lead First team food provision from the on-site hotel kitchen, working alongside and with support from the hotel kitchen staff

Lead and manage the front of house team, setting standards for service, food displays and buffet layouts

Create a welcoming dining environment and build a strong food culture around the first team

Collaborate with the performance, medical and coaching staff to connect nutrition strategy with the kitchen

Comply with allergen policy and make sure all food is prepared, stored and cooked in line with HACCP regulations, including daily HACCP checks

Make sure all health and safety, food safety and company policies are met, and keep compliance training up to date

Control stock, ordering and budgets for the First team food provision, including waste management, portion control and stock rotation

Use seasonal produce where possible and minimise waste

Support the training and development of kitchen and front-of-house staff, delegating tasks where appropriate

Deliver occasional education sessions on cooking and nutrition to players

Travel with the First team for away fixtures when required

Milton Keynes Dons Football Club, newly promoted to EFL League One, play at Stadium MK, a 30,500-capacity venue that sits at the heart of the wider Stadium MK Group. The Group's assets also include Arena MK, the Double Tree by Hilton Milton Keynes, a 304-bedroom hotel, and a 65,000-capacity music venue the National Bowl, making it one of the most diverse sport, leisure, and hospitality operations in the UK.