At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of innovative food and beverage concepts across multiple venues.
- Company: Join Legends Global, a leader in sport and entertainment experiences.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, health support, and a generous pension scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment focused on innovation and collaboration.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in F&B development and strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Flexible working arrangements and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
About Legends Global
Legends Global is redefining excellence in sport, entertainment and live events. We provide end-to-end solutions – from venue development and event programming to revenue strategy and hospitality. We take a 360-degree, data-driven approach across Partnerships, Hospitality, Merchandise and Attractions, working with leading clients to deliver outstanding experiences that resonate worldwide. Our organisation is committed to fostering an inclusive and forward-thinking environment where diversity drives innovation and collaboration. Guided by our values of Align, Scale, Connect, Team and Win, we create a culture where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
About the Role
The Director of Food & Beverage Development is responsible for setting and delivering the strategic direction, design and evolution of the organisation’s F&B offer. The role focuses on concept development, commercial performance, innovation, digital enablement and continuous improvement, ensuring all food and beverage operations align with brand, customer experience and financial objectives. This role provides senior leadership across multi-site or complex hospitality environments, working closely with Executive, Estates, Finance, IT and Operations teams to deliver high-quality, scalable and commercially successful F&B propositions.
What we can offer
- Access to discounted tickets for events.
- 25 days annual leave.
- Life Assurance policy.
- 5% Pension contribution.
- Support with unexpected health costs through Healthshield.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for mental health support.
- Eye care vouchers and contribution towards glasses.
- Cycle to Work scheme.
- Employee Referral Scheme rewards.
Key Responsibilities
- Define and deliver the Food & Beverage development strategy, aligned to organisational goals and customer experience ambitions.
- Lead the design, testing and rollout of new F&B concepts, menus, service models and delivery formats.
- Identify market trends, emerging consumer behaviours and technology opportunities to keep the F&B offer competitive and future-focused.
- Own F&B development budgets, business cases and investment proposals.
- Drive revenue growth, margin improvement and cost efficiency through concept optimisation and supplier strategy.
- Work with Finance to ensure robust forecasting, performance tracking and ROI evaluation for all development initiatives.
- Provide strategic direction for F&B-related technology, including EPOS, payment systems (PSPs), e-commerce platforms, SaaS solutions and digital customer journeys.
- Ensure systems support operational efficiency, data insight, scalability and enhanced customer experience.
- Champion innovation, using data and insight to inform decisions and continuous improvement.
- Translate F&B development strategy into practical, executable operating models.
- Oversee the implementation of train-the-trainer frameworks to support effective adoption by operational teams.
- Provide senior oversight for event-day readiness, service models and peak-trade execution in complex hospitality environments.
- Act as the senior F&B development lead with internal stakeholders including Estates, IT, Legal, Partnerships and Operations.
- Build and manage strategic relationships with suppliers, partners, agencies and consultants.
- Influence at Executive and Board level, providing clear recommendations and insight-led reporting.
- Lead, inspire and develop high-performing F&B development and specialist teams.
- Set clear objectives, performance measures and governance frameworks.
- Ensure full compliance with food safety, licensing, health & safety and regulatory requirements.
We are looking for someone with
- Extensive senior-level experience in Food & Beverage development, ideally across multi-site, estate, leisure, hospitality or mixed-use environments.
- Proven track record of concept creation, transformation and large-scale rollout.
- Strong background working with digital F&B systems (EPOS, payments, e-commerce, data platforms).
- Experience working closely with Estates, IT and Finance on capital projects and operational transformation.
- Strategically minded with strong commercial and financial acumen.
- Highly effective communicator with the ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders and boards.
- Strong problem-solving capability, able to navigate complexity and ambiguity.
- Confident leader who fosters collaboration, accountability and innovation.
- Highly organised, resilient and delivery focused.
Inclusive Workplace
At Legends Global, we are committed to leading the entertainment industry towards a greener, faster, and more innovative digital future. There’s never been a better time to join our team. We aim to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers, and suppliers. Join us and make a significant impact from day one.
We are committed to active inclusion, diversity, and equal opportunities. This commitment begins with our recruitment and selection process. We welcome discussions about flexible working arrangements. If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage of our recruitment process, please let us know in your application. We are dedicated to providing a fair and transparent assessment process and will do our utmost to accommodate your needs.
If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to ensure it is considered. We will continue to review applications on a rolling basis and may close the advert before the closing date.
General Information
The requirements of the business are such that it is necessary to have a flexible approach and therefore some business-related travel to be able to work at our venues and operational sites will be required.
Director of F&B Development F&B · Corporate HQ, Manchester, Legends HQ London employer: Utilita Arena
Contact Detail:
Utilita Arena Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of F&B Development F&B · Corporate HQ, Manchester, Legends HQ London
✨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 about reaching out to folks on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Ace the Interview
When you land that interview, make sure you’re prepared! Research Legends Global, understand their values, and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. Practice common interview questions and come armed with examples of your past successes in F&B development.
✨Show Your Passion
Let your enthusiasm for food and beverage shine through! Talk about your favourite concepts, trends, and innovations in the industry. Showing genuine passion can set you apart from other candidates and demonstrate that you’re the right fit for the team.
✨Follow Up
After your interview, don’t forget to send a thank-you email! It’s a great way to express your appreciation for the opportunity and reiterate your interest in the role. Plus, it keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of F&B Development F&B · Corporate HQ, Manchester, Legends HQ London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in Food & Beverage development. We want to see how your skills align with our goals at Legends Global, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As a Director, you’ll need to inspire and lead teams. Use your application to demonstrate your leadership style and any successful projects you've managed. We love seeing examples of how you've driven innovation and collaboration in previous roles.
Be Data-Driven: Since we take a data-driven approach, it’s important to include any experience you have with analytics or technology in F&B. Highlight how you've used data to inform decisions and improve operations – this will resonate well with us!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website for the best chance of being noticed. It’s the quickest way for us to get your details and start the conversation about how you can make an impact at Legends Global!
How to prepare for a job interview at Utilita Arena
✨Know Your F&B Trends
Before the interview, dive deep into current trends in food and beverage development. Understand what’s hot in the market, from innovative concepts to emerging consumer behaviours. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your strategic mindset and ability to keep the F&B offer competitive.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading high-performing teams. Be ready to discuss how you've inspired collaboration and accountability in previous roles. This is crucial for a Director position, as you'll need to influence and engage with senior stakeholders.
✨Be Data-Driven
Since the role involves a strong focus on data and technology, come prepared to discuss how you've used data insights to inform decisions in past projects. Highlight any experience with digital F&B systems, as this will show your capability to drive innovation and operational efficiency.
✨Align with Company Values
Familiarise yourself with Legends Global's values: Align, Scale, Connect, Team, and Win. Think of ways to weave these values into your responses during the interview. Showing that you resonate with their culture will set you apart as a candidate who fits well within their inclusive and forward-thinking environment.