Overview
The Head Kitchen Porter is a pivotal leadership role within the Villa Park kitchen. Responsible for overseeing the kitchen porter team, the post ensures operational efficiency, cleanliness, and hygiene across all Aston Villa Football Club culinary operations. This role combines hands-on kitchen support with team leadership, ensuring all back-of-house operations meet the high standards expected by both Levy and Aston Villa Football Club. The Head Kitchen Porter drives consistency, mentors team members, enforces compliance, and contributes to a safe, organised, and high-performing kitchen environment.
Responsibilities
* Lead, supervise, and motivate the kitchen porter team at Villa Park, ensuring high levels of performance, engagement, and teamwork.
* Coordinate rotas, allocate responsibilities, and manage workloads to cover matchdays, events, and daily kitchen operations.
* Coach, train, and mentor new and existing kitchen porters, fostering a culture of excellence, professionalism, and safety.
* Conduct regular team briefings and performance reviews, providing feedback and recognition.
* Ensure all kitchen porter activities maintain the highest standards of cleanliness, hygiene, and safety across Villa Park.
* Monitor workflows and identify opportunities to improve efficiency in dishwashing, cleaning, waste management, and equipment handling.
* Support chefs and culinary teams by maintaining a fully operational kitchen, ensuring prep areas, utensils, and equipment are ready for service.
* Enforce all health and safety, food hygiene, COSHH, and manual handling protocols for the kitchen porter team.
* Conduct regular audits and inspections, reporting issues and implementing corrective actions promptly.
* Maintain compliance with all Levy and Aston Villa Football Club policies, promoting a safe working environment for all kitchen staff.
* Ensure all cleaning, sanitisation, and operational standards are consistently met and exceed expectations for a professional football club environment.
* Identify areas for improvement and implement best practices to raise the standard of back-of-house operations.
* Oversee the management and safe use of cleaning equipment, dishwashing machines, and other kitchen tools.
* Monitor stock of cleaning materials and equipment, liaising with senior chefs and operations managers to ensure availability.
* Coordinate kitchen porter activities during high-pressure matchdays, VIP hospitality, and special events at Villa Park.
* Ensure smooth logistical support to the culinary team, minimising downtime and maintaining exceptional standards under peak conditions.
Qualifications
* Proven ability to lead and develop a team in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
* Strong communication skills, able to motivate and provide clear direction to staff.
* Deep understanding of kitchen hygiene, cleanliness standards, and back-of-house operations.
* Experience implementing processes and ensuring consistent delivery of high standards.
* Ability to anticipate issues and act proactively to resolve challenges.
* Strong organisational skills and attention to detail, ensuring operational excellence.
* Able to manage the physical demands of a busy kitchen environment.
* Reliable, proactive, and able to work under pressure, particularly during matchdays and large-scale events.
* Willingness to work evenings, weekends, and public holidays in line with Aston Villa Football Club's schedule.
* Adaptable to changing priorities, volumes, and operational requirements.
* Previous experience in a senior kitchen porter or supervisory role in catering, hospitality, or large-scale events.
* Knowledge of food hygiene and health & safety regulations is essential.
* Demonstrable experience leading a team, ideally in a high-volume or sporting environment.
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