Head of Catering Operations
Join us as Head of Catering, leading all club catering ops from matchdays to events, driving quality, revenue & fan experience. Play a key role in shaping a bold new F&B future at Power Court.
The Head of Catering will lead and manage the club’s food and beverage operations across all environments - including matchdays at the stadium, hospitality suites, corporate events, and the training ground. This strategic and operational role ensures exceptional quality, commercial performance, food safety, and a seamless customer experience across all catering service.
The role will also play a key part in the development and mobilisation of catering operations for Power Court, representing a step-change in scale, complexity and opportunity. The Head of Catering will ensure exceptional quality, safety, service and commercial performance while delivering a food and beverage offer that enhances the supporter and guest experience.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Lead the planning and delivery of all matchday catering operations, including public concourses, bars, kiosks, premium hospitality, lounges and executive boxes.
Oversee hospitality and event catering for non-matchday use, including conferences, private events and club functions.
Oversee the training ground catering, including first-team, academy and staff food provision, ensuring quality, consistency and alignment with performance and nutrition standards.
Ensure smooth end-to-end operations covering food preparation, service delivery, logistics and stock management.
Maximise revenue and margin across all catering operations through strong commercial planning, menu engineering and cost control.
Own catering budgets, forecasting, stock control and supplier spend, with clear accountability for financial performance.
Work closely with the Commercial and Marketing teams to support ticketing, hospitality sales and fan engagement initiatives.
Recruit, lead and develop a high-performing catering and hospitality team, including full-time, casual and matchday staff.
Manage catering partners, suppliers and contractors, ensuring value for money, service reliability and strong relationships.
Ensure the highest standards of food safety, hygiene, licensing, allergen management and health & safety compliance across all sites.
Champion continuous improvement in quality, efficiency and customer service.
Play a role in the planning, development and mobilisation of catering operations for Power Court, ensuring the model is scalable, efficient and commercially robust for a significantly larger venue.
Lead the transition from the current stadium to the new stadium, including supplier strategy, menu development, staffing structures, systems and operational processes.
·Develop a reimagined matchday and hospitality catering offer that meets higher volumes and broader audiences while maintaining quality, speed of service and value for money.
MAIN JOB REQUIREMENTS AND PERSON SPECIFICATION
Experience & Knowledge
Significant experience in senior catering, hospitality or food & beverage management roles, ideally within stadiums, arenas, major venues, hotels or large-scale event environments.
Proven experience managing high-volume, multi-outlet operations, including public catering and premium hospitality.
Experience supporting venue growth, stadium development or major operational change is highly desirable.
Strong commercial and financial management background
Skills & Attributes
Confident leader with the ability to motivate, develop and manage large teams.
Highly organised, resilient and calm under pressure in fast-paced matchday environments.
Commercially minded with a strong focus on customer experience and operational excellence.
Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
Flexible to work evenings, weekends and matchdays as required.
Additional Information
This a Full-Time role
Flexibility to work evenings, weekends and matchdays as required.
Travel for away fixtures and club events when necessary.
Applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK
- Department
- Catering
We're All Luton
At Luton Town we celebrate diversity in all its forms. Our commitment to fostering a vibrant and inclusive culture extends beyond the pitch, enriching every aspect of Our Club. We believe that a diverse workforce fuels creativity, innovation, and success.
We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed. Our dedication to equity, diversity, and inclusion is not just a statement; it's a commitment we uphold every day through our policies, practices, and actions.
We recognise that every individual brings unique skills and experiences to the table, and we are committed to ensuring that our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you require any reasonable adjustments to participate fully in the application or interview process, please don't hesitate to let us know.
Safeguarding Statement
The Club is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
The Club has systems in place to ensure that the welfare of vulnerable groups is dealt with appropriately and sensitively. Everyone working at the Club has a duty of care to safeguard the welfare of children and young people by creating an environment that protects them from harm. Our standards of practice ensure all staff are fully aware and understand their responsibilities under safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.
The Club ensures that all staff that have a direct responsibility for children, young people or vulnerable adults, have been subject to the most stringent of recruitment practices which include DBS Checks and reference checks. These staff are alert to signs of abuse or maltreatment and will refer concerns to the relevant Designated Safeguarding Officers using the agreed safeguarding procedures.
Benefits
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Subsidised Healthcare and Dental Plans.
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Complimentary meals & snacks provided
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Wide range of local and sponsor discounts
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Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle2work, electric car leasing & tech)
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Regular club social events
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Gym Discounts through benefits partners
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On-site Gym (Head Office)
About Luton Town Football Club
Luton Town Football Club is a professional football club based in Luton, Bedfordshire. Founded in 1885, the club combines a rich sporting history with a strong community focus.
Beyond football, Luton Town FC offers diverse career and placement opportunities in areas such as sport management, media, marketing, events, and community engagement.