Retail Catering Manager

Sodexo Live!; Blackburn; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free Parking

Free meals onsite

Job summary

Sodexo Live! in Blackburn is seeking a Retail Catering Manager to lead our retail food and beverage operation at Blackburn Rovers FC's stadium.

You will oversee the public bar and retail service on matchdays, drive revenue, and ensure exceptional guest experiences while maintaining cost controls. Working with the General Manager and leadership team, you’ll plan and deliver service across multiple bars, manage stock, recruit and develop teams, and uphold Health & Safety and food safety standards

Qualifications

• Proven management experience within high-volume catering or stadium environments.
• Strong leadership to motivate and develop large teams in a fast-paced operation.
• Experience managing stock control, ordering, stock rotation, labour budgets and operational costs to deliver strong commercial performance.
• A passion for delivering outstanding customer service and creating exceptional guest experiences.
• Strong planning, organisational and problem-solving skills, with excellent attention to detail.
• Knowledge of Food Safety, Health & Safety and compliance requirements within a catering or hospitality environment.
• Experience using EPOS systems and operational reporting tools to drive performance and decision-making.
• Comfortable working under pressure in a dynamic, high-volume venue where no two days are the same.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining high operational standards and service delivery.
• Self-motivated, proactive and able to work on your own initiative as well as part of a wider management team.
• Flexible approach to working hours, including evenings, weekends, matchdays and special events.
• Relevant qualifications such as Food Hygiene, IOSH Managing Safely, First Aid or a Personal Licence are advantageous but not essential.
• Personal Licence Holder
• IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent
• Experience delivering training and coaching teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead all public bar and beverage operations across the venue.
• Manage stock ordering, controls, rotation and monthly stocktakes.
• Drive beverage sales, profitability and gross margin performance.
• Ensure bars are fully prepared and operationally ready for every event.
• Recruit, train, motivate and develop casual event teams.
• Manage labour budgets and staffing levels effectively.
• Champion Health & Safety, Food Safety and compliance standards.
• Deliver operational plans for matchdays, concerts and special events.
• Use data, reports and EPOS systems to drive performance improvements.
• Introduce innovative ideas that enhance customer experience and commercial results.
• Build a positive, high-performing team culture focused on service excellence.

Skills

Management experience

Leadership

Stock control

Customer service

Planning

Food safety

Health & Safety

EPOS systems

Operational reporting

Team coaching

Work under pressure

Flexible hours

Personal Licence

Education

Food Hygiene

IOSH Managing Safely

First Aid

Personal Licence

Tools

EPOS systems

Job description

Lead. Deliver. Inspire. Be part of matchday magic.

• Blackburn Rovers Football Club, Ewood Park, Nuttall Street, Blackburn BB2 4JF
• Free Parking, Free meals onsite

Job Introduction

Are you an experienced hospitality or retail catering leader who thrives in fast-paced, high-volume environments? Do you have a passion for delivering exceptional fan experiences, leading teams to success, and maximising commercial performance?

At Sodexo Live!, we're seeking an ambitious and driven Retail Catering Manager to take ownership of our retail food and beverage operation at the iconic Blackburn Rovers Football Club.

As Retail Catering Manager, you'll be responsible for the end-to-end operation of our public bar and retail beverage service across the stadium.

You’ll lead the planning, preparation and delivery of service across:

• 35 catering bar units and two fan zones
• Matchday attendances of up to 30,000 supporters
• Non-matchday events and hospitality operations
• Cellar management, stock control and bar logistics

Working closely with the General Manager and wider leadership team, you'll ensure operational excellence, maximise revenue opportunities, control costs, and deliver exceptional guest experiences.

This is an opportunity to play a key role in one of the most exciting event environments in the UK, overseeing a large-scale operation serving thousands of fans and guests on matchdays and major events.

You’ll be particularly well suited to this role if you've worked within stadiums, sports venues, event catering, large-scale hospitality operations, retail food and beverage environments, leisure attractions, pubs, bars or other high-footfall customer-focused businesses.

If you're a hands-on hospitality leader who loves the buzz of live events, understands high-volume food and beverage operations, and is passionate about delivering outstanding experiences, we'd love to hear from you.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead all public bar and beverage operations across the venue
• Manage stock ordering, controls, rotation and monthly stocktakes
• Drive beverage sales, profitability and gross margin performance
• Ensure bars are fully prepared and operationally ready for every event
• Recruit, train, motivate and develop casual event teams
• Manage labour budgets and staffing levels effectively
• Champion Health & Safety, Food Safety and compliance standards
• Deliver operational plans for matchdays, concerts and special events
• Use data, reports and EPOS systems to drive performance improvements
• Introduce innovative ideas that enhance customer experience and commercial results
• Build a positive, high-performing team culture focused on service excellence

What You Bring:

• Proven management experience within a high-volume catering, hospitality, retail catering, stadium, event catering, leisure, entertainment, visitor attraction, bar, pub or licensed venue environment.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate, engage and develop large teams in a fast-paced operation.
• Experience managing stock control, ordering, stock rotation, labour budgets and operational costs to deliver strong commercial performance.
• A passion for delivering outstanding customer service and creating exceptional guest experiences.
• Strong planning, organisational and problem-solving skills, with excellent attention to detail.
• Knowledge of Food Safety, Health & Safety and compliance requirements within a catering or hospitality environment.
• Experience using EPOS systems and operational reporting tools to drive performance and decision-making.
• Comfortable working under pressure in a dynamic, high-volume venue where no two days are the same.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining high operational standards and service delivery.
• Self-motivated, proactive and able to work on your own initiative as well as part of a wider management team.
• Flexible approach to working hours, including evenings, weekends, matchdays and special events.
• Relevant qualifications such as Food Hygiene, IOSH Managing Safely, First Aid or a Personal Licence are advantageous but not essential.
• Personal Licence Holder
• IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent
• Experience delivering training and coaching teams