At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the food and beverage operations at a major sports venue, ensuring top-notch service and guest experience.
- Company: Join a leading global food service and hospitality business with a dynamic culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth opportunities, and the chance to shape a major venue's operations.
- Other info: Opportunity to innovate and influence in a fast-paced, exciting environment.
- Why this job: Be a key player in transforming the catering experience for thousands of event-goers.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in high-volume hospitality and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
ICP Search has partnered with a leading global food service, hospitality and venue operations business to appoint a Catering Operations Director for a major sports and entertainment venue in Wales. This is a senior leadership role responsible for the full food and beverage operation across general admission, hospitality, bars, concessions and events. The successful person will lead the mobilisation and ongoing delivery of a large-scale stadium catering operation, setting new standards across service, guest experience, operational efficiency and commercial performance.
The role would suit someone with significant experience in stadium, arena, live event or high-volume hospitality environments, particularly where wet-led operations, premium hospitality and large casual workforces are central to delivery.
As Catering Operations Director, you will take full operational ownership of the venue’s food and beverage proposition. You will lead the mobilisation programme, build and develop the operational team, establish systems and standards, and ensure the venue is fully prepared for launch and ongoing event delivery. This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership role requiring strong operational control, commercial judgement and the ability to influence senior stakeholders across the catering partner, venue team, suppliers, contractors and client stakeholders.
Key responsibilities
- Lead the full food and beverage operation across bars, concessions, general admission, hospitality, suites, lounges and event spaces.
- Own and deliver the mobilisation plan, ensuring kitchens, bars, retail units and premium spaces are ready for launch.
- Build, lead and develop a high-performing operational team.
- Establish clear operating procedures, service standards, compliance frameworks and event-day processes.
- Drive speed of service, queue management, stock flow, replenishment and throughput across high-attendance events.
- Manage large casual and agency workforces, including scheduling, briefing, training and performance standards.
- Own the operational P&L, with responsibility for revenue, labour, margin, stock control and profitability.
- Work closely with culinary, finance, HR, retail, sales, procurement, logistics and facilities teams.
- Ensure all activity meets legal, company and client standards across food safety, hygiene, licensing, allergens, HACCP and health and safety.
- Use data, guest feedback and market trends to improve the food and beverage offer.
- Lead innovation across stadium catering, including new concepts, technology, premiumisation and local supplier opportunities.
- Represent the business with credibility and authority in senior stakeholder, client and partner discussions.
What we’re looking for
- Extensive senior operational leadership experience in stadiums, arenas, major events or large-scale hospitality.
- Proven experience running high-volume wet-led operations, including bars, cellar management, rapid-pour systems and speed-of-service improvements.
- Strong understanding of general admission food operations, scalable menus and fan-focused catering.
- Experience managing premium hospitality environments, including lounges, suites and dining spaces.
- Track record of leading major event-day operations, ideally across attendances of 20,000 to 80,000+.
- Experience leading mobilisation projects, operational transitions or caterer changeovers.
- Strong P&L ownership and commercial acumen.
- Experience managing large casual, agency or seasonal workforces.
- Confident stakeholder management skills, including client, venue, supplier and contractor relationships.
- Strong knowledge of food safety, licensing, allergen management, HACCP and operational compliance.
- Comfortable using operational data, EPOS, stock insight and guest feedback to make live and strategic decisions.
- Calm, visible and decisive leadership style during high-pressure event delivery.
Why this could be a good move
This is an opportunity to play a central role in shaping the food and beverage operation at one of the UK’s major sports and entertainment venues. The successful person will have genuine influence over mobilisation, team structure, operational standards, guest experience, innovation and long-term commercial performance. It is a strong fit for someone who enjoys building operations from the ground up, leading through change and setting high standards in a major event environment.
Catering Operations Director in Wales employer: ICP Search
Join a leading global food service and hospitality business that values innovation, operational excellence, and employee development. As a Catering Operations Director at a major sports venue in Wales, you will benefit from a dynamic work culture that encourages creativity and collaboration, while also enjoying opportunities for professional growth and the chance to make a significant impact on guest experiences. With a focus on high-volume operations and premium hospitality, this role offers a unique platform to lead a passionate team and set new standards in the industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Catering Operations Director in Wales
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy to reach out to folks on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! When you get the chance to meet potential employers or attend interviews, bring your A-game. Share specific examples of how you've led successful operations in high-pressure environments. Let them see the real you and how you can make a difference.
✨Tip Number 3
Research the venue! Before any interview, dive deep into the venue’s history, their food and beverage offerings, and recent events. This shows you're genuinely interested and gives you a chance to suggest innovative ideas that could impress the hiring team.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities waiting for you. By applying directly, you’ll ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it’s a great way to stay updated on new roles that pop up!
We think you need these skills to ace Catering Operations Director in Wales
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Catering Operations Director role. Highlight your experience in high-volume hospitality and any leadership roles you've held, especially in stadiums or arenas. We want to see how your background aligns with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of your achievements in food and beverage operations, and how you’ve led teams to success. Let us know why you're excited about this opportunity!
Showcase Your Leadership Style:In your application, make sure to highlight your leadership style and how you manage large teams. We’re looking for someone who can inspire and lead under pressure, so share any relevant experiences that demonstrate your calm and decisive approach during busy events.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at ICP Search
✨Know Your Venue Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you research the venue thoroughly. Understand its history, the types of events it hosts, and any recent changes in operations. This will not only show your genuine interest but also help you tailor your answers to align with their specific needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Catering Operations Director, your leadership style is crucial. Be prepared to discuss your approach to building and leading teams, especially in high-pressure environments. Share specific examples of how you've successfully managed large workforces and improved service standards in previous roles.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Acumen
Since you'll be responsible for the operational P&L, it's essential to highlight your experience with financial management. Discuss how you've driven profitability in past roles, managed budgets, and used data to make informed decisions that positively impacted revenue.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills in real-time situations. Think about challenges you've faced in previous roles, particularly during major events, and prepare to explain how you handled them while maintaining service quality and guest satisfaction.
