Sous Chef

The Venue

Located on the historic Knavesmire, York Racecourse is one of the UK's most prestigious and well-loved racecourses, with over 280 years of history and a strong reputation for world-class flat racing. The venue is home to major fixtures including the internationally acclaimed Ebor Festival, attracting large numbers of racegoers and visitors each year. Beyond racing, York Racecourse is a versatile events destination, offering a range of indoor and outdoor spaces for conferences, exhibitions, corporate hospitality, banquets, celebrations and large-scale events. The venue combines its historic setting with modern facilities and is recognised for delivering high-quality food and beverage experiences, exceptional customer service and professional event operations

The Role

As Sous Chef, you'll play a key role in supporting the Head Chef and Senior Management team to deliver outstanding food experiences across all catering operations. You'll lead, motivate and develop the kitchen team, ensuring consistently high standards of food quality, presentation, safety and service. This is a hands-on leadership role for a passionate chef who thrives in a fast-paced events environment, enjoys developing people and is driven by culinary innovation and operational excellence.

What We Can Offer

🏖️ 25 Days Annual Leave - Work hard, rest well.

👪 Life Assurance - Peace of mind knowing your loved ones are protected.

🏦 5% Pension Contribution - Helping you prepare for a bright future.

🏥 Healthshield Cover - Support with dental, physio, counselling and more for you and your children.

🧠 Employee Assistance Programme - AXA Health support whenever you need it.

👓 Eye Care Support - Vouchers and contributions towards glasses.

🚴 Cycle to Work Scheme - A greener, healthier commute.

💸 Employee Referral Scheme - Recommend great people and get rewarded.

The Responsibilities

• Support the Head Chef in menu development across Hospitality, Banqueting and Retail operations, including menu reviews, tastings and bespoke client requirements.

• Assist in leading food production and supervising kitchen teams across all business areas and Conference & Banqueting events, ensuring exceptional quality, efficient service, minimal waste and adherence to production standards.

• Support the day-to-day management of kitchen operations, working closely with Operations to ensure appropriate porter and cleaning support while maintaining hygiene and food safety standards.

• Assist in achieving GP targets through effective stock management, portion control, waste reduction and cost-conscious purchasing practices.

• Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, policies and procedures, including Food Safety, Health & Safety, Allergen Management and Calorie Labelling requirements.

• Act as Deputy to the Head Chef when required, providing leadership, direction and support to the kitchen team to maintain operational excellence.

• Support the training, coaching and development of junior chefs and kitchen team members, fostering a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture.

• Monitor food quality, presentation and consistency, ensuring all dishes meet company standards and customer expectations.

• Stay informed of industry trends, culinary innovations and best practice, contributing new ideas to enhance menus and the guest experience.

About You

• Experience within the hospitality or food & beverage sector, with experience delivering operational success in a similar environment.

• Strong culinary knowledge, including food trends, menu development, food presentation and commercial awareness, with an understanding of margins and cost control.

• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to build positive relationships, motivate teams and support the development of others.

• Excellent organisational and practical skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt in a fast-paced environment.

• A proactive and customer-focused approach, alongside confidence using IT systems, including Microsoft Excel

Recruitment Process Outlined

• 1st Stage- Introductory call with Talent Team

• 2nd Stage- Interview with Venue Team

Any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory pre‑employment checks. These may include verification of identity, proof of address, right to work, employment history, qualifications, and-where relevant to the role-a basic or enhanced DBS check. All checks will be carried out in line with data protection law and we will only request information that is necessary for the role.

Inclusive Workplace

At Legends Global, we are committed to leading the entertainment industry towards a greener, faster, and more innovative digital future. There's never been a better time to join our team. We aim to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers, and suppliers. Join us and make a significant impact from day one.

We are committed to active inclusion, diversity, and equal opportunities. This commitment begins with our recruitment and selection process. We welcome discussions about flexible working arrangements.

If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage of our recruitment process, please let us know in your application. We are dedicated to providing a fair and transparent assessment process and will do our utmost to accommodate your needs.

If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to ensure it is considered. We will continue to review applications on a rolling basis and may close the advert before the closing date.