Director, Premium

COMPASS GROUP CANADA; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Benefits

Career opportunities

Learning & Development

Job summary

ICE District Hospitality, based in Edmonton, seeks a Director, Premium to oversee premium food service operations within Rogers Place and across ICE District. You will lead, train and coach teams, ensuring service excellence and financial performance for all premium spaces across events and games.

The role requires availability for regular evenings, weekends, NHL games and events, with a focus on guest experience, quality standards, and strong client relationships.

Qualifications

• Experience managing catering or hospitality operations in live entertainment events.
• Experience in sports arenas, stadiums or high-volume event environments preferred.
• College diploma in hospitality or food service; AFST certification highly regarded.
• Strong customer service, interpersonal and communication skills.
• Basic financial and budgeting skills; ability to manage costs and departmental budgets.

Responsibilities

• Champion the fan experience by upholding ICE District Hospitality standards across all premium spaces.
• Lead and align teams to deliver exceptional service at events and games.
• Drive operational excellence with planning, accountability and performance evaluation.
• Oversee day-to-day premium services, ensuring safe, efficient delivery and high quality.
• Direct premium service planning to meet client expectations and guest needs.
• Develop a high-performing management team through recruiting, coaching and performance management.
• Strengthen client and partner relationships for long-term success.
• Coordinate staffing and leadership coverage for events to ensure smooth execution.
• Coach staff to understand goals, execution standards and guest experience.
• Recognize top performers and address operational concerns promptly.
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, margins and overall performance.
• Create value through cost controls, resource management and disciplined profit planning.
• Monitor quality assurance, food safety, Health & Safety, and policies; implement corrective actions.

Skills

Hospitality operations management

Event operations in live venues

Customer service excellence

Communication skills

Leadership and people development

POS systems and data reporting

Education

College diploma in hospitality or food service

AFST – Advanced Food Safety Certification

Tools

POS systems

Inventory software

Data reporting tools

Job description

About ICE District Hospitality

ICE District Hospitality delivers world‑class food and beverage experiences within Rogers Place and across Edmonton’s vibrant ICE District. Our team is passionate about creating unforgettable moments for every guest, whether they’re attending a game, a concert, or a special event.

About ICE District Hospitality

ICE District Hospitality delivers world‑class food and beverage experiences within Rogers Place and across Edmonton’s vibrant ICE District. Our team is passionate about creating unforgettable moments for every guest, whether they’re attending a game, a concert, or a special event.

The Role

The Director, Premium oversees all aspects of premium food service operations within an NHL arena, ensuring operational and financial goals, quality standards, and client and sponsorship expectations are consistently met. This role works closely with Unit Managers to lead, train, and coach teams, support operational audits, and drive service excellence across premium spaces. The successful candidate must be available to work regular evenings, weekends, NHL games, and events based on operational requirements.

Responsibilities

• Champion the fan experience by ensuring every interaction, service point and premium offering reflects the ICE District Hospitality standards for hospitality, quality and professionalism.
• Lead consistent service execution across all areas, ensuring teams are prepared, aligned and equipped to deliver an exceptional experience at every event.
• Drive operational excellence through disciplined planning, clear accountability and continuous assessment of service standards, productivity and operational performance.
• Manage the day-to-day operations of the assigned departments, delegating responsibilities and providing direction to ensure all services and production are delivered safely, efficiently and to the expected standard.
• Plan, direct and oversee premium services within the venues to achieve operational and financial goals while meeting client expectations and guest needs.
• Build and develop a high-performing management team capable of effectively overseeing all areas of the operation.
• Lead, mentor, engage and develop management teams to maximize their contributions, including recruiting, assessing, training, coaching and managing performance.
• Develop and maintain strong client and partner relationships that support mutual objectives and long-term business success.
• Coordinate management scheduling and deployment to ensure appropriate leadership coverage and effective event execution.
• Coach employees by creating a shared understanding of what must be achieved, why it matters and how it should be executed.
• Recognize and reward employees who demonstrate strong performance, leadership and commitment to the guest experience.
• Respond to and resolve guest, client and operational concerns promptly, using feedback to strengthen service delivery and prevent recurring issues.
• Proactively assess operations and identify opportunities to improve productivity, strengthen margins and enhance overall performance.
• Create value through efficient operations, appropriate cost controls, responsible resource management and disciplined profit management.
• Manage departmental costs and operating performance within the approved unit budget.
• Monitor compliance with Quality Assurance, food safety, workplace Health and Safety, and organizational policies, initiating corrective action when required.
• Collaborate with marketing, partners and management teams to leverage partnerships and support promotional opportunities.
• Assist with the planning and execution of promotional events, client events, new openings and operational activations.

The Qualifications

• Must have proven experience managing catering or hospitality operations in a live entertainment event environment
• Experience managing catering/hospitality operations in a sports arena, stadium or high-volume event environment is preferred
• College diploma in hospitality or food service or equivalent experience
• AFST – Advanced Food Safety Certification
• Deep understanding of alcohol compliance laws
• 3 years’ relevant and progressive experience within food service or hospitality industry
• Past experience with managing, supervising, coaching and developing others
• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills
• Basic financial and budgeting skills
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Proven organizational, time management and leadership skills
• Knowledge of POS systems, inventory software and data reporting tools is considered an asset

What’s in it for you?

• Join an award-winning culture. We have been recognized for being a Great Place to Work, in addition to being selected as a FORTUNE Global 500 Company, Best Workplaces Retail & Hospitality, and FORTUNE World’s Most Admired Companies.
• The opportunities with us are endless. As the world’s largest food and support services company, we offer an extensive range of learning and career opportunities for all our associates.
• Health & Safety. The health and safety of our associates, clients and guests has always been our top priority. We have the right processes in place to ensure our teams have the support they need to stay safe, while helping to keep our guests safe.
• Health Benefits. For our eligible associates, we offer comprehensive health, vision, and dental care coverage.
• A Focus on Mental Health and Wellness. Our Mental Health and Well-Being initiative was created to share credible resources with our associates and the communities we serve on a variety of topics, including mental, physical, spiritual, and financial wellbeing. We also have an Employment Assistance Program which provides our associates with access to 24/7 support, resources, and information.
• We are as diverse as our guests. We are as diverse as the people and communities we serve, and we know that’s one of our greatest strengths. We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace where people feel respected, supported, and able to grow, with fair opportunities for all. Our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) create space for connection, deepen cultural awareness, and build appreciation of diverse perspectives across our teams – strengthening our culture and helping people feel a true sense of belonging.

For accommodation requests during the hiring process, please contact [e-mail] for further information.