Head of F&B Operations

Legends Global (Europe); Barnes; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 Days Annual Leave

Life Assurance

5% Pension Contribution

Healthshield Cover

Employee Assistance Programme

Eye Care Support

Cycle to Work Scheme

Employee Referral Scheme

Job summary

Legends Global in the United Kingdom’s Olympia venue network seeks a senior operations leader to oversee the Food and Beverage division across The Halls and The ICC. You will work with the Food and Beverage Director to maximise revenue, deliver exceptional guest experiences, and drive operational excellence during high-volume events.

You will coach departmental managers, manage budgets, labour costs and supplier relationships, and champion a culture of hospitality, safety and continuous

Qualifications

• Significant senior management experience in food and beverage, hospitality, hotels, stadiums, arenas, or premium guest experience environments.
• Proven ability to deliver exceptional guest experiences while managing high-volume operations.
• Experience leading operational delivery across complex events and customer-facing environments.
• Experience working collaboratively across multiple departments and stakeholder groups; leading change, transformation or continuous improvement programmes.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the operation of the departmental teams alongside the Food and Beverage Director, ensuring revenue is maximised at every opportunity.
• Provide visible and effective leadership to departmental teams, ensuring the highest standards of service delivery, operational excellence, and guest experience.
• Oversee the day-to-day operation across The Halls and The ICC.
• Act as the senior operational lead, deputising for the Food and Beverage Director and representing the business at internal and external meetings where appropriate.
• Support the delivery of annual budgets, business plans, revenue targets, and profitability objectives.
• Monitor and manage labour costs, payroll efficiency, departmental expenditure, and operating costs to achieve financial targets.
• Work with all venue departments to maximise efficiencies on cost and revenue generation.
• Lead, coach, motivate, and develop departmental managers and operational teams, creating a high-performance and guest-focused culture.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, training, succession planning, and talent development initiatives.
• Conduct performance and development reviews and manage day-to-day people matters in partnership with the HR team and Food and Beverage Director.
• Promote employee engagement, wellbeing, accountability, and continuous professional development.
• Champion a culture of exceptional hospitality and service excellence, ensuring all guest interactions reflect the prestige of Olympia Events
• Monitor guest feedback and performance metrics, implementing improvement plans where required.
• Maintain exceptional standards of presentation, cleanliness, food quality, and service delivery throughout the venue.
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, health and safety, licensing, employment, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain robust operational procedures, risk management processes, and safe systems of work across all departments.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal departments, suppliers, partners, contractors, and key stakeholders.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as requested by the Food and Beverage Director

Skills

Senior management

F&B operations

Hospitality leadership

High-volume operations

Change leadership

Job description

About Legends Global

Legends Globalis redefining excellence in sport, entertainment and live events. With unrivalled expertise and international reach, we provide end-to-end solutions – from venue development and event programming to revenue strategy and hospitality.

We take a 360-degree, data-driven approach across Partnerships, Hospitality, Merchandise and Attractions, working with leading clients to deliver outstanding experiences that resonate worldwide.

Our organisation is committed to fostering an inclusive and forward-thinking environment where diversity drives innovation and collaboration. Guided by our values of Align, Scale, Connect, Team and Win... we create a culture where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

The Venue

Olympia is one of the UK’s leading event destinations, hosting exhibitions, conferences, live entertainment, sporting events, and corporate functions. Technology is at the heart of every event, with reliable connectivity and resilient infrastructure critical to delivering exceptional experiences for organisers, exhibitors, visitors, and employees.

The Role

• To oversee the operation of the departmental teams alongside the Food and Beverage Director, ensuring revenue is maximised at every opportunity.

• Provide visible and effective leadership to departmental teams, ensuring the highest standards of service delivery, operational excellence, and guest experience.

• Oversee the day-to-day operation across The Halls and The ICC.

• Act as the senior operational lead, deputising for the Food and Beverage Director and representing the business at internal and external meetings where appropriate.

• Support the delivery of annual budgets, business plans, revenue targets, and profitability objectives.

• Monitor and manage labour costs, payroll efficiency, departmental expenditure, and operating costs to achieve financial targets.

• Work with all venue departments to maximise efficiencies on cost and revenue generation.

• Lead, coach, motivate, and develop departmental managers and operational teams, creating a high-performance and guest-focused culture.

• Support recruitment, onboarding, training, succession planning, and talent development initiatives.

• Conduct performance and development reviews and manage day-to-day people matters in partnership with the HR team and Food and Beverage Director.

• Promote employee engagement, wellbeing, accountability, and continuous professional development.

• Champion a culture of exceptional hospitality and service excellence, ensuring all guest interactions reflect the prestige of Olympia Events

• Monitor guest feedback and performance metrics, implementing improvement plans where required.

• Maintain exceptional standards of presentation, cleanliness, food quality, and service delivery throughout the venue.

• Ensure full compliance with food safety, health and safety, licensing, employment, and regulatory requirements.

• Maintain robust operational procedures, risk management processes, and safe systems of work across all departments.

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal departments, suppliers, partners, contractors, and key stakeholders.

• Undertake any other reasonable duties as requested by the Food and Beverage Director

What we're looking for

• Significant senior management experience within food and beverage, hospitality, hotels, stadiums, arenas, conference and events, or premium guest experience environments.

• Demonstrable experience delivering exceptional guest experiences while managing high-volume operations.

• Experience leading operational delivery across complex events and customer-facing environments.

• Experience working collaboratively across multiple departments and stakeholder groups. Experience leading change, transformation, or continuous improvement programmes.

What can we offer?

• 25 Days Annual Leave – Work hard, rest well.
• Life Assurance – Peace of mind knowing your loved ones are protected.
• 5% Pension Contribution – Helping you prepare for a bright future.
• Healthshield Cover – Support with dental, physio, counselling and more for you and your children.
• Employee Assistance Programme – AXA Health support whenever you need it.
• Eye Care Support – Vouchers and contributions towards glasses.
• Cycle to Work Scheme – A greener, healthier commute.
• Employee Referral Scheme – Recommend great people and get rewarded.

Recruitment Process Outlined

• As part of the application, candidates will be asked to record a short video response to a couple of questions, allowing us to get to know you beyond your CV.

• There are no right or wrong answers to these questions. We're interested in getting to know you, your experiences, and what matters to you. Feel free to draw on examples from work, education, volunteering, hobbies, caring responsibilities, or other parts of your life.

• We want you to be able to show us your best self. If a video interview isn't accessible, comfortable, or suitable for you, please let us know. We'll be happy to discuss alternative ways to complete the screening process. However you choose to interview, your application will be assessed fairly and consistently.

Any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory pre‑employment checks. These may include verification of identity, proof of address, right to work, employment history, qualifications, and—where relevant to the role—a basic or enhanced DBS check. All checks will be carried out in line with data protection law and we will only request information that is necessary for the role.

Inclusive Workplace

At Legends Global , we are committed to leading the entertainment industry towards a greener, faster, and more innovative digital future. There’s never been a better time to join our team. We aim to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers, and suppliers. Join us and make a significant impact from day one.

We are committed to active inclusion, diversity, and equal opportunities. This commitment begins with our recruitment and selection process. We welcome discussions about flexible working arrangements.

If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage of our recruitment process, please let us know in your application. We are dedicated to providing a fair and transparent assessment process and will do our utmost to accommodate your needs.