Head of F&B Operations

Legends Global (Europe); Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 Days Annual Leave – Work hard, rest

Life Assurance – Peace of mind

5% Pension Contribution

Healthshield Cover

Employee Assistance Programme

Eye Care Support

Cycle to Work Scheme

Employee Referral Scheme

Job summary

Legends Global is seeking a senior operations leader to oversee the day-to-day running of The Halls and The ICC at Olympia, working alongside the Food and Beverage Director to maximise revenue and guest satisfaction.

You will provide visible leadership to departmental teams, drive service excellence, manage labour costs, and partner with internal departments and external stakeholders to deliver premium events and experiences. A track record in high-volume hospitality is essential.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Oversee the operation of the departmental teams alongside the Food and Beverage Director to maximise revenue.
• Provide visible leadership to departmental teams, ensuring the highest standards of service delivery and guest experience.
• Oversee day-to-day operation across The Halls and The ICC.
• Act as senior operational lead, deputising for the Food and Beverage Director at meetings.
• Support delivery of annual budgets, business plans, revenue targets and profitability.
• Monitor and manage labour costs, payroll efficiency and operating costs to meet financial targets.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal departments, suppliers and key stakeholders.
• Lead, coach, develop departmental managers and create a high-performance, guest-focused culture.

Skills

Senior management

Hospitality operations

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder management

Food & Beverage operations

Job description

About Legends Global

Legends Global is 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.

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.

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.