Chief Operations Officer

Job Location: Selhurst Park Stadium, SE25 6PU

Contract Type: Full-time

Salary/ROP: Competitive

Deadline: 24th February 2025

Who we are:

We are Crystal Palace Football Club, a Premier League Football Club with more than 160 years of proud history. Spread across three different sites – our London office, Selhurst Park stadium and our Training Ground/Academy, we offer the best atmosphere and culture for our fans and our employees.

We strive for excellence in the workplace with a philosophy of high standards, professionalism, and a strong work ethic from our employees. We are constantly trying to grow, diversify and build with not only our team on the pitch, but also our team in the offices and on the ground.

About this role:

Crystal Palace Football Club is seeking a dynamic and experienced Chief Operations Officer (COO) to oversee the operational efficiency of the club across all sites. The successful applicant will carry and uphold the very highest standards and then be able to motivate others to meet them, fostering a culture of excellence in every aspect of the operations of the club as well as positively contributing across the business in other areas. This is a hands-on role, requiring direct involvement in day-to-day operations including mission-critical areas such as match day management. The COO will play a key leadership role and will be responsible for delivering an exemplary operational environment while working on strategic projects such as the development of the new Main Stand at Selhurst Park. This position requires a forward-thinking leader, who has great attention to detail when it comes to capital projects and service delivery. The successful candidate must have significant operational expertise and the ability to manage cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities:

• Ensure seamless and efficient daily operations across all club sites.
• Manage key operational departments, including Customer Service, Maintenance, Venue Presentation, Security, Supporter Services, Accessibility, Health and Safety and Compliance, ensuring all team members are motivated to deliver best in class standards.
• Align operational strategies with the club’s long-term vision and objectives.
• Work on major capital projects, particularly the new main stand development at Selhurst Park and the expansion at our Academy site, ensuring timely and cost-efficient delivery.
• Maintain all facilities to the highest standards, with a focus on safety and compliance.
• Oversee all matchday operations, ensuring a world-class experience for fans, players, and stakeholders while maintaining safety, crowd control, and logistical efficiency.
• Collaborate with senior leadership, external partners, and key stakeholders to drive operational improvements and initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and industry standards.
• Act as the main point of contact for government bodies such as councils, SAG and Police.
• Implement best practices in operational delivery to enhance the club’s reputation and performance.
• Improve operational efficiencies through the adoption of innovative technologies and processes.
• Budget management for all departments within the remit.
• Demonstrate leadership by actively contributing to the EDI Strategy and delivery plan, guiding and motivating the team to take actionable steps towards achieving EDI objectives.
• Establish and drive EDI targets for your department, ensuring measurable progress and accountability.
• Conduct regular EDI reviews to ensure new project procedures and strategies are inclusive, equitable, and aligned with CPFC’s values.
• Other duties and responsibilities as required by line manager.
• Upholding and promoting the Club’s policies and procedures, including Health and Safety, Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities policies and procedures.

Experience, Skills and Qualifications:

• Proven experience in a senior operational leadership role, ideally within the football, sports, entertainment, or large-scale venue sector.
• Must have an exceptionally high attention to detail and the ability to motivate their team to deliver high standards of output.
• Strong track record in facility management, customer service, and security operations within a high-profile organisation.
• Experience managing capital projects, including large-scale infrastructure developments.
• Expertise in strategic planning, risk management, and compliance.
• Ability to lead and motivate multi-disciplinary teams in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with experience working alongside executive leadership and external partners.
• Exceptional problem-solving abilities and a proactive, hands-on leadership style.
• A passion for football and a strong understanding of the operational demands of a professional football club.
• A Level 4 qualification in spectator safety is desirable.

Our commitment to Equality:

At Crystal Palace Football Club, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion is spirited and continues to grow due to the working environment, which makes all staff feel appreciated and welcomed. Crystal Palace Football Club do this by encouraging good relations and practices towards different groups and are committed to promoting employment opportunities that celebrate diversity.

We are committed to attracting, recruiting, and retaining the most talented candidates and the club intends to ensure that everyone who wishes to engage with the club, whether as matchday fans, staff, players, board members, participants in Foundation programmes and any other person engaged with the club’s activities, has a real and equal opportunity to do so.

Reasonable Adjustment:

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer. We guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role, ensuring equitable opportunities for everyone.

If you require disability-related adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact (DLO inbox is for disability-related queries only, if you wish to gain further information regarding this vacancy, please contact ). We are here to help you through the whole recruitment process including trying to apply for a vacancy, getting in touch with us through the process, and/or helping with access in case you are required to come in for an interview.

Safeguarding:

Crystal Palace Football Club is committed to safeguarding and ensuring the welfare and protection of children and vulnerable people and expects all staff to share this commitment. As such, the post holder will be required to undergo any relevant security checks, including a basic DBS check, as necessary.

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