Clifton Operations Supervisor in Nottingham

As Clifton Operations Supervisor you’ll supervise venue operations at the Clifton campus, taking a lead where required and making relevant day‑to‑day decisions to ensure the efficient and effective running of the venue — all while delivering top customer service. As part of the Venues team and working closely with the Food and Beverage management team, you’ll strive to achieve best practice, including Best Bar None and other relevant schemes. You’ll create and develop an effective operational staff team (including student staff), delivering excellent service and fostering a positive working environment.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrable experience at a supervisory level in a bar or hospitality environment, with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build positive relationships at all levels. Please note: evening, weekend and unsociable hours are a consistent requirement of this role. Trading patterns are seasonal, reflecting University term times, so a flexible approach to working hours is essential.

What you’ll be doing:

• Your focus is leading day‑to‑day operations, developing the team, and delivering an outstanding experience for members at Clifton.
• Support and develop student staff to deliver excellent customer service — training, motivating and resourcing the team while promoting a positive culture.
• Lead on recruiting new student staff (Bar Assistant and Bar Team Leader roles), from Authority to Recruit through to interviews and training.
• Help the Venues Management team achieve best practice in compliance, health & safety, Best Bar None and other schemes.
• Support the enforcement of all licensing legislation and conditions, protecting the licence and maintaining operational reporting and logs.
• Implement stock management and EPOS reconciliation procedures so orders, deliveries, movements and discrepancies are recorded and reported.
• Safeguard the integrity of financial systems — train staff on till use, run regular checks, and act to minimise discrepancies, errors and loss.
• Maintain the highest service standards across bars, diners, cafés, entertainments and technical areas.
• Champion Clifton as a campus ambassador, ensuring information flows effectively and feeding back insight to improve service and engagement.
• Liaise with NTSU departments, clubs and committees to understand members’ changing needs and feed into event programming.
• Ensure customer safety at all times — review health & safety and fire procedures and work with security, medics and maintenance teams.
• Work with the Entertainments, Technical and other SU teams to deliver Clifton’s televised sports and events, taking the lead ‘on the night’.
• Engage in sustainable workplace practices and follow sustainable policies and procedures.

What we’re looking for:

• You don’t need every desirable point — but supervisory experience in a bar or hospitality setting is essential.
• Experience working in a bar or hospitality environment, including supervising a team.
• Experience of working anti‑social hours, till reconciliations, and dealing with customer complaints and requests.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, communicating effectively with a wide range of people.
• Strong computer skills (Microsoft Office Suite) and a creative approach to problem‑solving.
• Reliable, flexible, self‑motivated, and confident making decisions.
• Knowledge of health & safety in bars (including risk assessments), food hygiene, and licensing legislation.
• Experience in a nightclub environment or a Students’ Union.
• DPS experience and/or a Personal Licence.
• Familiarity with sustainable office practices and the Best Bar None / Green Impact schemes.
• Qualifications in bar management, event production, hospitality, H&S, first aid, food hygiene, or SIA.
• Negotiation skills and use of AI tools such as Microsoft 365 Copilot.
• An understanding of what can be recycled on campus, and how to recycle it properly.

As a full‑time employee at NTSU, you will have access to benefits designed to support your professional and personal growth, including:

• Generous paid holiday: 33 days of paid time off (20 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays + 5 closure days).
• Time Off in Lieu (TOIL): for extra hours worked.
• Pension contribution: 4–6% contribution.
• Flexible working: arrangements to support work‑life balance.
• Salary progression based on performance: salary increases within a band to reflect your value to the team.
• Travel Pass Loan and Wage Loan: support with commuting costs and unexpected expenses.
• Enhanced sick pay: additional support when you need it.
• Training and development opportunities: to expand your skills and advance your career.
• Enhanced parental leave: 3 weeks’ paid paternity leave, plus enhanced maternity and shared parental leave.
• Free eye tests and a financial contribution towards glasses required for computer work.
• Free annual flu jabs.

As an Equal Opportunities and Disability Confident Employer, NTSU welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates including those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups, disabled candidates and members of the LGBTQ+ community. We’re committed to an inclusive workplace where everyone belongs.