General Manager

Sodexo; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus potential

Flexible benefits

Free parking

Career development

Job summary

Sodexo Live! is seeking an exceptional General Manager to lead our partnership at The City Ground, home of Nottingham Forest FC. This role drives matchday and event experiences, leads a large team, and delivers commercial performance.

You will oversee F&B, hospitality and events, manage senior heads, and deliver world-class guest experiences at scale. If you have leadership with strong commercial acumen, apply now.

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience within hospitality, events, stadia or venue operations.
• Proven responsibility for large-scale P&L management.
• Experience leading diverse, multi-functional teams.
• Strong commercial awareness and financial acumen.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while delivering results.
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Commitment to operational excellence, compliance, health & safety and customer experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide inspirational leadership across all areas, creating a culture of accountability and high performance.
• Act as the senior Sodexo Live! representative to Nottingham Forest FC and stakeholders.
• Develop and deliver strategic plans to drive growth and venue success.
• Own the venue’s financial performance, delivering budget and profitability targets.
• Identify and maximise revenue opportunities using financial insight and market trends.
• Champion fan and guest experiences, ensuring services exceed expectations and contracts.
• Drive operational excellence across hospitality, catering and events.
• Lead and develop a high-performing management team.

Skills

Senior leadership

P&L management

Stakeholder management

Commercial acumen

Operational excellence

Team leadership

Customer experience

Job description

Lead one of the most exciting hospitality and events operations in UK sport.

General Manager

• The City Ground, NFFC, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 5FJ
• 40hrs pw 5/7
• up to £60,000pa Depending on experience + excellent bonus and benefits
• Flexible Benefits fund of £1,300 to utilise across an array of benefits
• Free parking

Job Introduction

Sodexo Live! is seeking an exceptional General Manager to lead our partnership at The City Ground, home of Nottingham Forest Football Club.

This is more than a venue management role. It's an opportunity to shape unforgettable matchday and event experiences, lead a large and passionate team, drive commercial performance, and become a trusted strategic partner to one of English football's most historic clubs.

As General Manager, you will have overall responsibility for the performance, growth and operational excellence of the venue's food, beverage, hospitality and event operations.

You’ll lead a team of senior department heads and oversee the delivery of world‑class experiences for thousands of guests across matchdays, conferences, banqueting, hospitality and special events.

This is a high‑profile, highly visible leadership role where you will have the autonomy to innovate, influence strategy and make a lasting impact.

If you’re an inspiring leader with strong commercial acumen, a passion for hospitality, and a track record of delivering exceptional customer experiences at scale, we’d love to hear from you.

What You’ll Do:

• Provide inspirational leadership across all areas of the operation, creating a culture of accountability, engagement, inclusivity and high performance.
• Act as the senior Sodexo Live! representative and trusted partner to Nottingham Forest FC, building strong relationships with key stakeholders.
• Develop and deliver strategic business plans that drive growth, innovation and long‑term venue success.
• Take full ownership of the venue’s financial performance, delivering budget, revenue and profitability targets through robust commercial management.
• Identify and maximise new revenue opportunities, utilising financial insight, forecasting and market trends to support decision‑making.
• Champion outstanding fan, guest and hospitality experiences, ensuring services consistently exceed expectations and contractual commitments.
• Drive operational excellence and innovation across hospitality, retail catering, premium experiences and events, positioning the venue as an industry leader.
• Lead, coach and develop a high‑performing management team, fostering talent, succession planning and continuous improvement across the business.

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

What You Bring:

We’re looking for a commercially focused hospitality leader who thrives in fast‑paced, customer‑centric environments.

Essential Experience

• Significant senior leadership experience within hospitality, events, catering, stadia, leisure or venue operations.
• Proven responsibility for large‑scale P&L management.
• Experience leading diverse, multi‑functional teams.
• Strong commercial awareness and financial acumen.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while delivering results.
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship‑building skills.
• Commitment to operational excellence, compliance, health & safety and customer experience.

Desirable Experience

• Stadium, arena or large event venue experience.
• Premium hospitality or high‑end retail catering experience.
• Experience managing large‑scale event operations.
• Exposure to transformational projects, venue development or business growth initiatives.

What we offer:

Working with Sodexo Live! is more than a job; it’s a chance to be part of something greater. You’ll belong in a company and team that values you for you; you’ll act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions; and you’ll be able to thrive in your own way. In addition, we also offer a range of resources, rewards and benefits for our colleagues and their families:

• 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

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 to being an 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.

The rewards and Benfits guide is attached.

Keywords:

General Manager, Stadium & Venue Operations, Hospitality Leadership, P&L Management, Commercial Strategy, Premium Hospitality, Events & Matchday Operations, Multi‑Site Large Team Leadership, Client & Stakeholder Management, Food & Beverage Operations