Chief Operating Officer - Levy UK & I

Levy; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits

Job summary

Levy UK & I is seeking a dynamic Chief Operating Officer to lead operational delivery across our UK portfolio of stadia, arenas, conference and events venues. You will report to the CEO and shape the direction of the business, delivering outstanding guest experiences and strong client partnerships.

You will lead through Business Directors, ensure regional teams perform, and drive growth with a focus on safety, sustainability and people development.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in a large, multi-site hospitality, catering, events, leisure or retail business.
• Proven ability to lead complex operations across regions via director-level and GM teams.
• Strong P&L ownership with budgeting, forecasting, cost control and profit improvement.
• Analytical mindset with data-driven performance improvement and guest experience focus.
• Commitment to inclusive leadership and development of leadership talent.

Responsibilities

• Lead the UK operational strategy and translate ambitions into regional and venue business plans.
• Own operational P&L performance, drive sales, profitability and cost control.
• Build trusted client relationships and support long-term partnerships and retention.
• Coach and develop Business Directors, strengthen succession and leadership team.
• Oversee new venue mobilisations, transitions and delivery on time and budget.
• Provide senior operational sponsorship for capital and venue development projects.
• Use data to improve productivity, commercial performance and guest experiences.
• Support new business opportunities and retenders with operational expertise.

Skills

Senior leadership

P&L management

Multi-site operations

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

Job description

Chief Operating Officer – Levy UK & I

Location: Nationwide / UK Mobile

Salary and benefits: Competitive plus benefits

Lead exceptional hospitality. Shape the future of Levy UK.

At Levy, we create meaningful impact through extraordinary experiences—for our people, guests, partners, communities and the planet.

We’re looking for an inspiring, commercially focused Chief Operating Officer to lead operational delivery across our UK portfolio of stadia, arenas, conference and events venues.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, you’ll turn our strategy into outstanding experiences for guests, strong commercial results and lasting client partnerships. As a member of the executive team, you’ll help shape the direction of the business and build the leadership capability to deliver our ambitions.

The role

Responsibilities

Leading through our Business Directors, you’ll set clear standards, empower regional teams and ensure every venue delivers exceptional food, drink and hospitality. Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading the UK operational strategy, translating our ambitions into clear regional and venue business plans.
• Taking full accountability for operational P&L performance, driving sales growth, profitability and effective cost control.
• Building trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders, supporting long-term partnerships and contract retention.
• Coaching and developing Business Directors, strengthening succession and creating a high-performing leadership team.
• Overseeing new venue mobilisations and transitions, ensuring successful delivery on time and within budget.
• Providing senior operational sponsorship for major capital and venue development projects.
• Using data and insight to improve productivity, commercial performance and the guest experience.
• Supporting new business opportunities and retenders, bringing operational expertise to proposals and presentations.
• Embedding consistent standards across health and safety, compliance, sustainability and people development.
• Working with Levy’s partner businesses and brands to create innovative solutions for our clients and venues.

About You

You’re a dynamic, engaging leader who combines strategic vision with the ability to deliver through others. You bring commercial judgement, credibility with senior clients and a passion for developing people.

You’ll Bring

• Extensive senior operational leadership experience within a large, multi-site hospitality, catering, events, leisure or retail business.
• A proven ability to lead complex operations across multiple regions through director-level and general management teams.
• Strong P&L ownership, with expertise in budgeting, forecasting, profit improvement and cost control.
• Experience leading mobilisations, operational transitions or major development projects.
• A track record of building senior client relationships and supporting business growth and retention.
• An analytical approach, using data to challenge performance, improve operating models and deliver change.
• A commitment to inclusive leadership, talent development and exceptional guest experiences.
• The resilience and agility to respond quickly to changing priorities while maintaining quality.

About Levy

Levy is part of Compass Group and delivers food, drink and hospitality at some of the most celebrated venues in sport, entertainment and events. Our partnerships span iconic destinations across the UK, Ireland and Europe.

We combine great food, exceptional service and fresh thinking to help our partners realise their ambitions. Our people are at the heart of that work, alongside our commitment to wellbeing, inclusion and a more sustainable future.