1st Team Chef de Partie – Aston Villa FC Training Ground
Reports to: Head Chef – Aston Villa FC Training Ground
Location: Aston Villa FC Training Ground – Bodymoor Heath
Sector: Levy UK
Aston Villa Key Relationships: Executive Performance Chef, Catering Manager, Head of Nutrition & Performance Nutritionists
ROLE PURPOSE
This role will be integral to the performance nutrition “fresh, food-first” philosophy that fuels European performances and Premier League excellence. This is not just any culinary role—it is an opportunity to impact elite athletic performance through world-class nutrition.
The Chef de Partie at Aston Villa FC’s Training Ground plays a vital role in supporting nutritionally balanced, high-quality meals for players, coaches, and staff in an elite sporting environment. Working under the guidance of the Executive Performance Chef, Head Chef & Senior Sous Chef. The Chef de Partie is responsible for supporting the preparation and presentation of dishes that meet the highest standards of taste, nutrition, and consistency, supporting performance and recovery needs.
The role involves hands-on cooking, menu execution, and maintaining impeccable food safety and hygiene standards. The Chef de Partie may also support performance catering at Villa Park on matchdays or support with away fixtures, helping to ensure first-team meals are delivered seamlessly.
This is a unique opportunity to contribute directly to Aston Villa’s pursuit of excellence, aligned with 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
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Food Preparation and Service: Prepare, cook, and present meals to the highest standards, ensuring nutritional balance and consistency across all services. There could be a requirement to lead on basic tasks and to work effectively under pressure.
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Menu Execution: Support the delivery and support the creation of menus designed by the Head Chef and Aston Villa’s Performance Nutrition department to support fueling, recovery, and wellbeing goals for athletes.
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Matchday Support: If required, assist with first-team catering at Villa Park on matchdays or support away fixtures, ensuring performance-focused menus are executed to the required standards. This may require some travel to support the team’s requirements, but this will depend on which area of the first-team kitchen the successful candidate is positioned.
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Team Collaboration: Work closely with the Head Chef, fellow chefs, and nutrition department to deliver seamless service across daily meal periods.
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Food Safety & Hygiene: Maintain strict compliance with food hygiene, allergen management, and health and safety standards at all times.
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Stock & Waste Management: Assist with stock control, storage, and waste reduction, ensuring ingredients are used efficiently.
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Continuous Improvement: Contribute ideas for menu development and culinary innovation, staying aligned with trends in nutrition and performance catering.
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Training & Development: Support team members where required, sharing knowledge and upholding kitchen standards.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
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Culinary Qualifications: Professional culinary training and relevant certifications (NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent).
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Experience: Previous experience as a Chef de Partie ideally in high-performance, sports, training ground, or premium hospitality settings.
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Technical Skills: Competent cooking ability with good attention to detail in presentation and quality.
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Nutrition Awareness: Interest in sports nutrition principles and performance-led cooking.
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Team Player: Collaborative approach with excellent communication skills to work effectively with chefs, nutritionists, and performance staff.
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Organisation & Efficiency: Ability to manage time effectively and deliver consistently in a fast-paced environment.
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Food Safety Knowledge: Solid understanding of HACCP, allergen procedures, and health and safety compliance.
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Flexibility and Adaptability: Willingness to work flexible hours aligned with the football calendar, including evenings, weekends, and matchdays. This also includes, if required, to work across all kitchens of Bodymoor Heath to support Aston Villa’s requirements.
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Passion & Drive: Enthusiasm for food, nutrition, and contributing to the success of Aston Villa Football Club.
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Growth Mindset: Sport is always evolving, so a positive and open mindset is required to adapt to its changing nature.
