Operations Manager in Southend-on-Sea

Location: Southend United Football Club, Roots Hall Stadium, Southend on Sea.

Reports to: General Manager

Contract Type: Full‑time

Salary: Competitive

About Southend United

Southend United Football Club is a historic club with a strong community identity and an ambitious long‑term vision. Following a period of stabilisation, the Club is focused on delivering high‑quality matchday operations, strengthening its non‑football infrastructure and creating a safe, welcoming environment for supporters, staff and stakeholders. Alongside progress on the pitch, the Club operates an ageing stadium and training environment that requires careful management, strong operational discipline and continual improvement. The Operations Manager role is central to ensuring the Club meets its operational responsibilities while supporting growth in attendances, commercial activity and community engagement.

Role Overview

The Operations Manager is responsible for the day‑to‑day delivery of all operational activities at Southend United Football Club. The role oversees stadium and training ground operations, matchday delivery, facilities and grounds maintenance, health & safety, and supporter‑facing operational services. Working under the direction of the General Manager, the Operations Manager ensures that the Club operates safely, compliantly and efficiently, with a strong focus on planning, coordination and execution. This is a hands‑on operational role, requiring a visible presence on site, particularly on matchdays, and close collaboration with staff, contractors, volunteers and external authorities to ensure consistently high standards of delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Matchday, Events & Stadium Operations: Lead the planning and delivery of all Roots Hall matchdays, ensuring compliance with National League and FA regulations. Lead the planning and delivery of non‑matchday events held at the Stadium, Training Ground or any other venue. Oversee stadium operations, including stewarding, safety, cleaning, catering, ticketing, hospitality, and supporter services. Liaise with the Safety Officer, SAG (Safety Advisory Group), police, and local authorities regarding licensing, security, and crowd management. Ensure high‑quality fan experience across all touchpoints. Lead pre‑match readiness checkpoints and post‑match reviews across all departments.
• Facilities: Oversee the repairs and maintenance of Roots Hall Stadium, the Fossett’s Farm Training Ground and our pitches at both locations. Develop and maintain a network of volunteers and trusted suppliers, ensuring repairs and maintenance work is performed by the appropriate resourcing in accordance with the Club’s procurement policies. Maintain documentation for all repairs and maintenance works (issues logs, triage decisions, quotes, invoices etc.).
• Governance, Compliance & Health & Safety: Ensure the club complies with all legal, regulatory, and safeguarding requirements. Manage health & safety, risk assessments, and emergency planning for the stadium and training ground. Act as the primary operational point of contact for regulatory bodies, local authorities and the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), escalating material risks or issues to the General Manager as appropriate.
• Food & Beverage and Matchday Experience: Oversee stadium food and beverage operations across matchday and non‑matchday activity. Provide operational oversight of the Blue Eagle Pub (working to support Publican), ensuring alignment with Club standards, matchday operations and supporter experience. Oversee food and beverage operating costs, including staffing and consumables. Manage food and beverage operations, including chefs, bar staff and/or external providers, to deliver departmental plans within budget and target gross margins, whilst continually improving standards. Manage key food and beverage supplier relationships. Monitor, respond to and manage supporter feedback, liaising with Supporter Groups as required.
• Leadership & Management: Lead, develop, and manage operational staff, suppliers and volunteers. Drive operational efficiency across the club with effective processes and systems. Contribute to strategic planning as part of the senior leadership team.

Safeguarding

Southend United Football club are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We endeavour to provide a fun, safe and welcoming environment where children and young people feel respected and valued.

Person Specification

Essential: Strong track record in operations management in sport, events, leisure, food and beverage or a related industry. Knowledge of operations, safety, and compliance requirements within stadium held events. Excellent organisational, project management, and leadership skills. Ability to work under pressure, problem‑solve, and make sound decisions quickly. Strong communication and stakeholder management skills (board, staff, supporters, authorities). Willingness to work flexibly, including evenings, weekends, and matchdays.

Desirable: Previous experience in football operations at professional or semi‑professional level. Familiarity with National League and FA rules and regulations. IOSH/NEBOSH or safety management qualifications. Passion for football and community engagement.

Equality & Diversity

Southend United FC is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment and its employment policies for recruitment, selection, training, development and promotion are designed to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of race, colour, nationality, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, ethnic and national origin, disability or gender reassignment.

Eligibility for Employment in the UK

In accordance with current legislative requirements the successful applicant must produce documentary verification of their eligibility to work in the UK and will not be allowed to start work until this has been received.