Position: Performance Chef – Full Time/Exempt

Department: Nutrition Services

Reports to: Sr. Manager, Nutrition Services 

Location: Arizona Cardinals (Tempe, AZ)

Format: In-person 

Cardinals Organizational Summary:   

The Arizona Cardinals Football Club is a professional football team within the National Football League (NFL). We compete in the National Football Conference (NFC) West division and call State Farm Stadium, in Glendale, Arizona, our home.

As one of the oldest pro football franchises in the U.S., the Club has established itself as a sport and cultural hallmark within Arizona, as well as a trailblazer for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) initiatives and firsts around the League.  Our vision is to build a leading sports organization that competes for championships, drives business results, creates loyal fans, develops proud employees, and inspires hope in our community. We are relentless in our pursuit of greatness on and off the field, while positively impacting our people, our fans, and our community.

If you want to join an organization that values putting the team first, doing what is right, growing with positivity, valuing every voice, while driving performance, we would love for you to join our team. Learn more about the Arizona Cardinals and see what’s happening here. 

Job Summary:

The Performance Chef will help optimize player health and performance through the creation and execution of nutritionally optimal meals and snacks, utilizing fresh, local, and sustainable ingredients, for players, coaches, and other team members. The Performance Chef oversees the culinary performance staff and works in tandem with the back of house staff on the overall productivity, execution, and presentation of team and corporate meals.

Primary Job Duties:

The Performance Chef will have the daily responsibilities, without limitation, to include the following: 

• The Performance Chef will work in collaboration with Team Chef(s) and Dietitian(s) to provide fresh, local, sustainable, balanced, and nutrient dense meals tailored specifically to the needs of the Arizona Cardinals players, coaches, and staff
• Assists in development and execution of menus for all team meals based on dietary needs and seasonality
• Plan, directs, and executes all food preparation and culinary activities while ensuring prepared food gets the "final touch" before serving
• Provide proactive leadership along with Team Chefs to manage back of house culinary staff, to include hiring, training, development, and retention of staff; and to provide on-going and frequent performance feedback and coaching
• Train and mentor all culinary staff via continuing education and workshops to ensure the quality representation of the Arizona Cardinals Nutrition Services expectations
• Evaluate menus for overall kitchen flow of hot and cold service lines, product availability, and ingredient utilization within staffing limitations
• Oversee purchasing, inventory, and end of month budget submissions
• Manage staff scheduling and monitor hours
• Recipe research and development of new culinary trends - integrate into in-season menus as appropriate for team dietary needs and preferences
• Participate with planning of training camp deliveries and timeline, extended stay, and international meal service operations, as needed
• Implement procedures for serving food, as well as rotating and storing food within coolers, freezers, dry storage, utilizing a FIFO-approach (including labeling, dating, rotating, and screening products to meet food safety and organizational standards)
• Development of guidelines for discarding or returning products that do not meet organizational standards
• Establish relationships with quality, nutritional-minded vendors to procure seasonal, local, and sustainable ingredients
• Monitor expenses and budget status along with other general administrative duties including menu costing, inventory tracking, invoicing, and reporting market food price fluctuations
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in culinary arts, nutrition, food science or related field or equivalent
• Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of experience in the food & beverage industry as an Executive Chef or equivalent
• Experience: A minimum of two (2) years of experience in a culinary management role within an athletic nutrition setting (ex. professional sports team, collegiate athletic department)
• Knowledge of nutrition needs and demands of an athlete
• Collaborate as a multi-disciplinary team member of the performance nutrition department and advise on culinary methods and techniques for meals related to the athletes' individual metabolic and nutritional needs
• Comprehensive understanding of menu item specifics including, but not limited to, dietary restrictions, food allergies and intolerances, ingredients, preparation processes, holding and serving temperatures, and HACCP guidelines
• Up-to-date with all required certifications including Food Handler's Card and ServSafe Manager Certification
• Knowledgeable in functionality of UKG, Microsoft Office, SharePoint preferred
• Experience and ability to contribute to a healthy team environment within an organization united toward the common goals of championship-level performance
• Can communicate effectively with all individuals across the organization
• Ability to effectively work in a fast-paced environment with multiple competing priorities and meet required deadlines
• Maintains the highest level of confidentiality and sensitivity around professional athletes in their work environment, in accordance with HIPAA guidelines
• Flexible schedule with availability to work on event days including nights, weekends, and holidays
• Must complete all pre-employment forms and successfully pass a background check
• Must be able to stand and exert well-paced mobility for periods of up to eight (8) hours in length
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds on a regular basis

Cardinals Benefits/Perks Summary:

The Arizona Cardinals Football Club has developed a comprehensive benefits package that provides economic and inclusive benefits to full-time employees. The Cardinals benefits offer care, protection, and support for employees and their loved ones. The Cardinals organization encourages an environment that is conducive to living a healthy, productive, and flexible lifestyle.

Benefits and Perks include, but are not limited to:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance options; effective the first day of hire
• 401 (k) retirement option with employer match contribution
• Paid Time Off Accruals (including sick time accruals)
• Paid Time Off for most Federal holidays
• Time off for Maternity, Paternity, Military, and Bereavement
• MDLIVE: 24/7 medical support
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) & Health Care Saving Account options
• Discounts on Cardinals gear & paraphernalia
• Tuition reimbursement & Professional Growth opportunities
• Daily free lunch
• Complimentary season tickets
• Subsidized gym memberships

The Arizona Cardinals Football Club is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.