Senior F&B Lead- NEC Exhibitions

Global Sports Jobs Limited; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

23 days annual leave

Birthday off

Aviva Digicare

Medicash

Employee Assistance Programme

Enhanced family leave

Discounts

Pension

Career pathways

Meals on duty

Job summary

Levy is seeking a Senior Food & Beverage Lead to drive hands-on, retail-focused operations across exhibition halls at the NEC campus. You will lead teams, deliver strong sales performance, and support other departments as required.

Reporting to the Retail F&B Operations Manager, you will champion CARE values, ensure compliance with food safety, licensing, and safety standards, and maintain exceptional customer experiences across venues.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading a diverse team in fast-paced settings.
• Strong leadership with ability to motivate staff.
• Experience delegating tasks and ensuring smooth ops.
• Excellent verbal and written communication with clients and guests.
• Customer-centric approach and problem solving under pressure.
• Knowledge of health, safety, licensing and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead, train, coach and supervise staff and leads with clear objectives.
• Deputise for Retail F&B Ops Manager; own operational decisions.
• Deliver events within financial targets; manage labour, waste and costs.
• Oversee service across halls; ensure efficient tasks and Levy standards.
• Deliver exceptional customer experiences; address inquiries promptly.
• Manage sales, stock and regulatory compliance for F&B and merch.
• Foster teamwork; coordinate with departments for seamless execution.
• Enforce health and safety protocols; conduct inspections.
• Assess performance; provide feedback and development opportunities.
• Ensure licensing, food safety and company policies are followed.

Skills

Team leadership

Communication

Delegation

Customer service

Regulatory knowledge

Health & safety

Adaptability

Collaboration

Attention to detail

Job description

About the Role

The Senior Food & Beverage Lead at Levy is a hands-on, primarily retail-focused leadership role responsible for delivering high-quality food and beverage operations across exhibition halls. Reporting to the Retail F&B Operations Manager, the role has direct responsibility for managing retail operations across one or more exhibition halls, leading teams on the ground, and driving sales performance. While the core focus is retail, the role also provides occasional support within other departments in line with event requirements. The role supports and deputises for the Retail F&B Operations Manager when required, leads and supports Food & Beverage Leads, and champions Levy’s CARE values to ensure consistently high standards across event spaces.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide effective leadership, training, coaching and supervision to staff and Food & Beverage Leads, setting clear expectations and objectives and monitoring progress.
• Support and deputise for the Retail F&B Operations Manager when required, taking ownership of operational decision‑making and overall performance.
• Deliver events within agreed financial targets through effective labour management, revenue generation, waste minimisation, stock control and oversight of controllable costs, proactively identifying revenue opportunities.
• Oversee smooth food and drink service operations across one or more exhibition halls, ensuring tasks are carried out efficiently, in line with event instructions, and to Levy standards.
• Maintain a strong focus on delivering exceptional customer experiences, leading by example and addressing customer concerns or inquiries promptly and effectively.
• Manage the sale and service of food, beverages and merchandise, ensuring accurate transactions, compliance with relevant regulations, and monitoring inventory levels to meet customer demand.
• Foster a positive, collaborative team environment and coordinate with team leaders and other departments to ensure seamless execution of tasks.
• Adhere to health and safety protocols, conducting regular inspections and safety walks to identify and address potential hazards.
• Monitor team performance, conduct regular evaluations, provide constructive feedback and coaching, and recognise outstanding performance to support individual development and motivation.
• Ensure compliance with licensing requirements, food safety and hygiene standards, and company policies, keeping abreast of regulatory changes and identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Previous experience of leading a diverse team within a fast-paced environment.
• Strong leadership abilities, with the capacity to motivate and inspire team members to perform at their best.
• Experience in effectively delegating tasks and managing staff to ensure smooth operations.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to liaise effectively with team members, clients and guests.
• A genuine passion for delivering outstanding customer experiences, with a customer‑centric approach to service delivery.
• Ability to anticipate and respond to customer needs promptly and effectively.
• Highly adaptable and able to work in a fast‑paced and dynamic environment.
• Willingness to work across different departments and business streams within the NEC campus as required.
• A collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Meticulous attention to detail, with the ability to maintain high standards of quality and presentation while overseeing multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Proactive and self‑motivated, with the ability to take initiative and problem‑solve effectively in challenging situations.
• Resilience and composure under pressure.
• Knowledge of relevant regulations and standards, particularly regarding the sale of food and drink and the service of alcohol.
• Commitment to ensuring compliance with health and safety protocols, licensing requirements and company policies.
• Alignment with Levy’s values and mission, including a commitment to excellence, teamwork and continuous improvement.

Preferred Skills

• Previous experience in a retail and/or hospitality or events-related role is desirable.
• Experience of delivering exceptional customer service is desirable.

Workplace

• NEC campus, working across one or more exhibition halls and, as required, other departments and business streams within the NEC campus.

Salary

• Competitive salary

Benefits & Perks

• 23 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, your birthday off, and a holiday purchase scheme.
• Aviva Digicare and Medicash covering dental, optical and therapy treatments.
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme for mental health support.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave, plus 2 days' additional leave after returning from maternity leave, a day off for your baby's first birthday, and enhanced family leave.
• Shopping, entertainment and travel discounts.
• 20% off Nuffield Health memberships and 10% off PureGym memberships.
• Pension scheme, Life Assurance and preferred rates on salary finance products.
• Professional subscriptions, ongoing training and structured career pathways.
• Meals on duty included.