Catering Services Director

Sodexo Group; Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mental health support

Employee assistance programme

Free health & wellbeing app

Sodexo Discounts Scheme

Retirement plan

Death-in-Service

Learning & development tools

Cycle to Work

Volunteering opportunities

Flexible work environment

Competitive compensation

Job summary

Sodexo Live! seeks a commercially driven Catering Services Director to lead food and beverage delivery across Newcastle United Football Club.

You will oversee premium hospitality, retail, fan dining and events, driving guest experiences and strong commercial performance. The role requires experience in large-scale, high-volume catering, a passion for innovation, and a track record of leading high-performing teams in fast-paced environments.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in large hospitality, catering, sports, leisure or live-events.
• Proven experience leading complex multi-site operations.
• Significant experience in retail catering and premium hospitality.
• Strong P&L management and commercial experience.
• Experience leading large and diverse teams.
• Proven ability to manage senior client and stakeholder relationships.
• Experience delivering business plans and continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Deliver revenue, profitability, productivity and KPI targets for the Newcastle United account.
• Maintain a strong partnership with Newcastle United FC to drive satisfaction and long-term growth.
• Oversee food quality, service standards and hospitality across Newcastle United locations.
• Build and develop a high-performing, diverse team with accountability and succession planning.
• Ensure operations comply with safety, legal, and contractual governance requirements.

Skills

Senior leadership

Multi-site operations

P&L management

Team leadership

Client relationships

Change programmes

Food safety & compliance

Job description

Catering Service Director

• Newcastle United Football Club, St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4ST
• highly competitive + excellent bonus and benefits
• 40hrs pw 5/7
• Flexible Benefits fund of £1,300 to utilise across an array of benefits
• Hours / Shift Pattern / Shift Times
• Site Specific Perks & Benefits

Job Introduction

At Sodexo Live!, we create exceptional moments, and at one of the most iconic football clubs in the world, hospitality plays a vital role in the fan experience. We are seeking an experienced and commercially driven Catering Services Director to lead catering operations across Newcastle United Football Club.

This is an exciting opportunity to oversee all food and beverage delivery across premium hospitality, retail, fan dining and event catering, ensuring exceptional guest experiences and strong commercial performance.

We are looking for a dynamic leader with experience in large-scale, high-volume catering or hospitality environments, a passion for innovation, and a proven ability to lead high-performing teams.

If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and are passionate about delivering outstanding food, service and memorable experiences at scale, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Do:

1. Commercial & Financial Performance

Deliver agreed revenue, profitability, productivity and KPI targets through effective financial management, governance and growth of the Newcastle United account.

2. Client Relationship & Retention

Maintain a strong, trusted partnership with Newcastle United FC that drives client satisfaction, retention and long-term business development.

3. Customer, Guest & Player Experience

Deliver exceptional food quality, service standards and hospitality experiences across all Newcastle United locations.

4. People & Culture

Build a highly engaged, diverse and high-performing team through effective leadership, development, succession planning and accountability.

5. Safe, Compliant & Operationally Excellent Business

Ensure all operations are delivered safely, legally and in accordance with contractual, operational and governance requirements.

What You Bring:

• Senior leadership experience within large hospitality, catering, sports, leisure or live-events environments.
• Proven experience leading complex multi-site operations.
• Significant experience in retail catering and premium hospitality.
• Strong P&L management and commercial experience.
• Experience leading large and diverse teams.
• Proven ability to manage senior client and stakeholder relationships.
• Experience delivering business plans, change programmes and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong understanding of food safety, Health & Safety, allergen management and licensing requirements.
• Experience within a high-profile customer-facing operation..

What we offer

• Unlimited access to an online platform offering mental health and wellbeing support.
• Employee Assistance Programme to help with everyday issues or larger problems where you may need additional support, including legal and financial advice, support with work related issues or personal issues such as bereavement.
• Access to a free health and wellbeing app that provides rewards for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and includes access to a 24hr virtual GP and various other services.
• The Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering great deals 24/7 (also open to friends and family) and/or the prepayment cashback card.
• Money Insights and financial benefits via the Salary Finance Platform.
• Save for your future by becoming a member of the Sodexo Retirement Plan
• A Death-in-Service benefit for colleagues who pass away whilst employed by Sodexo
• Opportunities to enable colleagues to grow and succeed throughout their career at Sodexo, including a variety of learning and development tools.
• Cycle to Work Scheme to help colleagues to do their bit for the environment whilst keeping fit.
• Volunteering Opportunities to enable all colleagues to help support worthwhile causes in our communities.
• Flexible and dynamic work environment
• Competitive compensation
• Full training and full protective uniform supplied.

Sodexo reserves the right to close this advertisement early if we are in receipt of a high volume of applications.

About Sodexo

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better every day for everyone to build a better life for all. As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100 million consumers each day through our unique combination of On-Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services.

We are committed tobeingan inclusive employer. We are a forces friendly employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds, and identities. We encourage our employees to get involved with our Employee Networks such as Pride, Sodexo Parents & Carers, Sodexo Disability, Ability network, So Together, Generations and Origins.

Sodexo Disability, Ability network, So Together, Generations and Origins.

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.