Catering Service Director

Sodexo Group; Eastbourne; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a passionate Catering Service Director to lead hospitality at one of the UK's most iconic venues. This role involves overseeing all aspects of catering and hospitality operations, ensuring exceptional guest experiences while managing complex venue operations. The ideal candidate will thrive in high-pressure environments, demonstrating strong leadership and commercial insight. With a competitive salary and a range of benefits, this is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact in a vibrant setting. If you are ready to take your career to the next level, this could be your next big move.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Performance-related bonus

£1,300 flexible benefits fund

Up to 6% contributory pension scheme

Buy/sell up to 3 additional holidays

Volunteering days

Exclusive discounts on dental care and gym

Discounted mobile phone tariffs

Savings across restaurant chains

Cinema discounts

Qualifications

• Proven leader in large-scale hospitality environments.
• Experience managing complex P&L accounts and driving profitability.

Responsibilities

• Lead premium catering and hospitality at Hampden Park.
• Manage high-performing teams and ensure operational excellence.
• Oversee health & safety and food safety compliance.

Skills

Leadership in hospitality

Commercial insight

Operational management

Client relationship management

Health and safety compliance

Food safety regulations

Team motivation

Job description

Contract Type: Permanent | Full Time 40hrs pw 5/7

At Sodexo Live!, we bring people together through exceptional catering and hospitality experiences – and there’s no better stage for this than Scotland’s national stadium, Hampden Park.We are on the lookout for a passionate and accomplishedCatering Service Directorto lead the front line of hospitality, where every match day, concert, and event is powered by outstanding food, service, and atmosphere.

This is a rare opportunity to oversee the full spectrum of stadia catering and hospitality operations at one of the UK’s most iconic venues.From overseeing busy public concourses to curating high-end hospitality in premium suites, your leadership will be instrumental in delivering unforgettable experiences and driving commercial success.

We’re looking for a hospitality-driven leader with sharp commercial insight and operational confidence.If you know what it takes to create top-tier guest experiences while managing complex venue operations – and if you thrive in high-pressure, high-profile environments – this could be your next big move.

Main Responsibilities

What you’ll do:

• Lead with vision and impact, championing Sodexo Live!’s premium catering and hospitality offer at Hampden Park.
• Inspire and manage high-performing teams across public retail catering, corporate hospitality, and event services – ensuring consistency, quality, and innovation.
• Drive operational brilliance with tight cost control, efficient staffing, and bold commercial thinking across food, beverage, and service operations.
• Strengthen client relationships through trust, collaboration, and shared ambition.
• Take full ownership of health & safety, food safety, and licensing compliance – ensuring every guest, at every level, receives a safe and exceptional experience.
• Lead from the front with resilience, adaptability, and a deep passion for hospitality.

For a full list of responsibilities please read the attached job description

The Ideal Candidate

• A proven leader in stadia or large-scale hospitality environments, with a deep understanding of public catering and high-end hospitality delivery.
• Experience managing complex P&L accounts, interpreting commercial data, and using insight to drive growth and profitability.
• Outstanding communicator with the ability to engage clients, partners, and frontline teams alike.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and motivate large, diverse teams across multiple service lines.
• Strong working knowledge of food safety regulations, health and safety, and Scottish alcohol licensing.
• Highly resilient and self-motivated – thrives under pressure and leads with purpose.
• Background in conferences, events, and stadium catering is highly desirable.

What We Offer:

In return for your expertise and energy, you’ll receive:

• Competitive salary + performance-related bonus
• £1,300 flexible benefits fund
• Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• Buy/sell up to 3 additional holidays
• Volunteering days with our charity partner STOP HUNGER
• Exclusive discounts including dental care, gym discounts, retail / hospitality, and more

For more information on all the great benefits Sodexo offer to support you and your loved ones, check out the attached Benefits Guide at the bottom of this advert!

We also offer Sodexo Discounts site promoting discounted mobile phone tariffs, savings across restaurant chains and days out, where you and your family can save money on everything from your weekly food shop to the latest cinema blockbuster and much more!

Ready to be part of something greater? Apply today!

We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer.We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations.We run a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.

Salary £highly competitive plus bonus and excellent benefits