Closing Date: 22 November 2026
First Team Performance Chef
Employer: MK Dons Football Club
Location: Stadium MK & MK Training Ground -Milton Keynes & away fixture venue Salary: Depending on experience Contract: Permanent contract Hours: Full time –5 days out of 7, including weekends, evenings and bank holidays as dictated by the football schedule About Us Milton Keynes Dons Football Club, newly promoted toEFL League One, play atStadium MK, a30,500 -capacity venue that sits atthe heart ofthe wider Stadium MK Group .The Group's assets also include Arena MK, the Double Tree byHilton Milton Keynes, a304 bedroom hotel, and a65,000 -capacity music venue the National Bowl, making itone ofthe most diverse sport, leisure, and hospitality operations inthe UK.
About the role
Ifyou are achef with experience cooking inaperformance environment, this isanexciting opportunity towork atthe heart ofaprofessional 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 toadiverse squad .
The role isbased inthe on-site hotel kitchen, where you will work with support from the hotel kitchen team todeliver the first -team food offering .You will also lead the front of house team, making sure service, presentation and the overall dining experience are ofa consistently high standard .
You will engage with players and staff during meal service tomake sure their needs are met, and you will help build astrong food culture around the First team .
Working hours are dictated bythe football schedule, sothe role will involve working weekends, evenings and bank holidays when required, including over the Christmas and New Year fixture period .
We're looking forsomeone 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 toplayer dietary needs, allergies and performance orrecovery goals, inagreement 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 ofhouse team, setting standards forservice, food displays and buffet layouts
- Create awelcoming dining environment and build astrong food culture around the first team
- Collaborate with the performance, medical and coaching staff toconnect nutrition strategy with the kitchen
- Comply with allergen policy and make sure allfood isprepared, stored and cooked in line with HACCP regulations, including daily HACCP checks
- Make sure allhealth and safety, food safety and company policies are met, and keep compliance training uptodate
- Control stock, ordering and budgets forthe Firstteam food provision, including waste management, portion control and stock rotation
- Use seasonal produce where possible and minimise waste
- Support the training and development ofkitchen and front -of-house staff, delegating tasks where appropriate
- Deliver occasional education sessions oncooking and nutrition toplayers
- Travel with the First team foraway fixtures when required
Experience and qualifications
Essential
- Relevant experience asachef inaperformance environment
- Minimum of2years' experience
- Working knowledge ofperformance nutrition, hydration, fuelling and recovery, with the ability totranslate guidance from the nutrition team into food that supports performance and recovery
- Experience delivering tailored meals forindividual dietary needs and allergies
- Strong scratch -cooking skills with anunderstanding ofarange ofinternational flavours
- NVQ Level 2inProfessional Cookery orequivalent
- Level 3Food Safety &Hygiene
- Good understanding ofCOSHH
- Experience leading ateam, ideally including front ofhouse staff
- Excellent communication skills with the confidence toengage players and staff
- Ability towork under pressure and adapt toachanging fixture and training schedule
- Flexibility towork weekends, evenings and bank holidays asdictated bythe football schedule, and totravel with the team
- Good level ofspoken English
Desirable
- NVQ Level 3inProfessional Cookery orequivalent
- Experience working inprofessional sport
Why Join Us?
AtMK Dons, you'll bepart ofapassionate and ambitious football club where your expertise can make areal difference toplayer performance, preparation and recovery .
This isaunique opportunity tocombine your culinary skills with your passion forsport, working closely with professional footballers and adedicated multidisciplinary performance team .
Equality, Diversity &Inclusion
We are committed tocreating aninclusive workplace that values diversity and welcomes applications from allsections ofthe community .
Safeguarding
We are dedicated toproviding asafe and secure environment for all.Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, and all employees are expected touphold and promote our safeguarding policies and procedures .
Due tothe nature ifthe role the successful applicant will besubject toanEnhanced DBS check and allrelevant pre-employment screening checks .
Application Process
Ifyou're passionate about food, football and helping athletes perform attheir best, this isyour opportunity tobepart ofsomething exciting, wewould welcome your application .
Toapply, please submit :
Acompleted application form, available onthe careers page ofthe Club website .
Your current CVand covering letter outlining your suitability forthe role .
Applications should besent tocareers@stadiummk .com .
Closing Date :5.00pm Sunday 22ndNovember 2026
