General Manager

Sodexo Live!; West Bridgford; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Flexible benefits

Free parking

Job summary

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

You will have overall responsibility for the venue's food, beverage, hospitality and event operations, delivering world-class experiences across matchdays, conferences and special events with autonomy to innovate.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• 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 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.

Skills

Senior leadership

P&L management

Stakeholder management

Commercial acumen

People development

Job description

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

• The City Ground, NFFC, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 5FJ
• 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.

What You Bring:

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

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