Head of Retail - Charlton

Gather & Gather; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A hospitality company specializing in sports venue services is seeking a Head of Retail to lead operations at Charlton Stadium. Responsibilities include managing F&B retail operations, ensuring a high standard of fan experience, and overseeing a large team. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in senior leadership roles, a strong financial acumen, and excellent people management skills. A competitive salary of £40,000 – £45,000 annually is offered, with a working pattern of 5 out of 7 days, including weekends and matchdays.

Benefits

Personal development opportunities

Life assurance scheme

Pension scheme

Holiday allowance

Healthcare Support App

Regular social events

Volunteering days

Qualifications

• Significant experience in senior retail / F&B leadership in a stadium or large event.
• Proven track record of growing revenue and managing large teams.
• Advanced operational knowledge: stock control, logistics, health & safety.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategic plan for retail growth across F&B.
• Oversee daily operations of all retail functions.
• Ensure high standards in product quality and service.

Skills

People management

Operational excellence

Customer experience focus

Financial performance management

Strong communication

Job description

Head of Retail

At Gather & Gather Stadia we specialise in hospitality for community‑focused sports venues, delivering locally inspired high‑quality food and drink that elevates fan and guest experience and drives lasting impact.

We take a boutique approach: combining personalised service, strong local partnerships and menus built around fresh, locally sourced ingredients that reflect the unique character of every stadium and its community.

We're proud to bring energy, creativity, and care to every match day and event – and we're looking for a Head Of Retail to join our amazing team in Charlton.

Location: SE7 8BL (Charlton Stadium). Salary: £40,000 – £45,000 per annum depending on experience. Working Pattern: 5 out of 7 days (including weekends, evenings and matchdays). Reporting to: General Catering Manager.

Role Overview

The Head of Retail is responsible for leading and managing Charlton Athletic's Food & Beverage (F&B) retail operations, ensuring excellence in fan experience, commercial performance, and operational delivery across matchdays, non‑matchdays, hospitality, and special events.

With a dynamic and growing operation that is 80% liquor‑driven, and a retail team of up to 200 staff on matchdays, this role demands proven expertise in large‑scale event operations, ideally within stadia or greenfield or large‑scale event environment.

Team Size & Structure

• Senior Retail Operations Team (Patch Managers)
• Matchday Set‑Up Team
• Up to 200 casual staff across kiosks, bars, fan zones, and mobile units on matchdays

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Retail Leadership – develop and implement a strategic plan for retail growth across F&B, bars, kiosks, and fan zones; align operational plans with infrastructure projects and club‑wide growth.
2. Operational Excellence – oversee daily operations of all retail functions including bars, food units, kiosks, mobile bars, and the fan zone; lead stock control, procurement, supplier relationships, and cost efficiency; manage cellar systems and general maintenance across all sites; oversee new and exciting food concepts and launch new offers.
3. Customer Experience & Quality – ensure high standards in product quality, presentation, and service; comply with food hygiene, health & safety, and licensing regulations.
4. Team Leadership & Development – recruit, train, and manage a high‑performing F&B team (supervisors, casual, and full‑time staff); plan matchday staffing effectively to align with match profile and service demand; set and monitor individual and team KPIs.
5. Financial Performance & Reporting – own P&L responsibility for all retail operations; monitor sales, margins, and KPIs, delivering regular reporting to senior leadership; ensure efficient stock management, ordering, and wastage control.
6. Fan Engagement & Commercial Partnerships – work with Commercial & Marketing to drive spend‑per‑head via promotions and activations; support wider C&E (Conferences & Events) operations with VIP and large‑scale events.
7. Infrastructure & Project Delivery – lead retail improvement projects; coordinate with Facilities and Maintenance to ensure all upgrades and repairs are planned and delivered on time.

Person Specification

• Significant experience in senior retail / F&B leadership in a stadium, arena, large event, or greenfield setting.
• Proven track record of growing revenue, improving margins, and managing large teams.
• Strong people management and leadership skills across multi‑site, high‑pressure environments.
• Advanced operational knowledge: stock control, logistics, vendor negotiation, health & safety.
• Resilience and adaptability in high‑demand matchday environments.
• Excellent communicator with strong internal and external stakeholder management.
• Available to work evenings, weekends, and all matchdays.

What's in it for you?

Working with Gather & Gather is rewarding. We offer:

• Personal development and training opportunities.
• Life assurance scheme.
• Pension scheme.
• Holiday allowance.
• Access to a Healthcare Support App (annual health check, digital GP, mental health consultations, nutritional consultations, second medical opinion).
• Eye care.
• A great wellbeing strategy – including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, salary finance.
• Family‑friendly support.
• Regular social events and communication with our leaders.
• A holiday purchase scheme.
• Volunteering days.
• Professional subscriptions.
• Recognition schemes and people awards.
• Long‑service awards.
• Access to high‑street discount vouchers.