Retail Operations Manager - Food

Job Introduction

Sodexo Live are currently looking to recruit an experienced Retail Operations Manager to be based at the prestigious Ascot Racecourse.

Reporting to the Head of Retail, you will be fully accountable for Raceday and Event food operations and concessions, driving on trend and best in class offers; you will successfully launch new innovative food concepts when required and ensure commercial targets are achieved. 

We need an excellent communicator with a great understanding and passion for food trends. You will build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, sponsors and suppliers, whilst you ensure successful strategies are integrated to support the retail operation.  You will have gained experience in a fast-paced multi-unit role.  You will be fully accountable for managing the labour budget and planning casual labour for all Racedays and events.  As an experienced leader, you will demonstrate your skills when briefing Casual Managers ahead of each event, ensuring consistent delivery of our Standard Operating Procedures and driving a positive guest experience. You will be responsible for sourcing concession partners to enable scale and flexibility of our operation to meet the demands of both the Jumps and Flat Season Racing.  You will work closely with the Head of Retail and The Operations Manager for Beverage to ensure continuous improvement.

Role Responsibility

• Execution of new and existing food offerings to the highest standards 
• To drive delivery and profit from food concepts
• To be looking at new and innovative food offerings, that are on trend
• Support the wider retail team with any relevant execution of operational projects 
• Development and deployment of retail operational projects  
• Management of all retail KPI documentation 
• Operational management and support for internal and external events
• Responsible for all Retail Food Operations monthly profit and loss
• Assist with the management of the Retail account, managed by the Head of Retail
• To maintain the SAP purchase order system and ensure all forecasting is submitted 
• To assist the kitchen with the development of the menu specification process and monitor the allergen specification strategy
• To operationally manage the Retail Food Operation & Food Concessions on racedays
• To support the Head of Retail with all race day and event requests
• Development of the retail team

For a full list of responsibilities please read the attached job description

The Ideal Candidate

Essential

• Graduate calibre or qualified through experience, gained within fast paced food retail
• Experience of managing diverse teams
• Experience of working to tight deadlines
• A comprehensive knowledge of Food Hygiene and associated Food Legislation and Best Practice
• Competent in Microsoft Packages
• Experience of working with an EPOS system
• A confident communicator with exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Attention to detail
• A keen interest in food trends
• Consistent and proven operational retail experience at management level

Desirable

• Experience of working with third party contractors / suppliers
• Experience of analysing food trends within the industry
• Experience of budgeting, forecasting and profit and loss management
• Project management experience
• H&S Food Hygiene Qualification Level 2
• Knowledge of Wines and Beverage trends
   

Package Description

£34,000 to £35,000pa & bonus + great benefits 

Location: Ascot Racecourse  

Permanent  

Work Pattern – 40 hrs Mon to Fri with flexibility to work all race days and key Events.
 

About the Company

In the UK and Ireland, Sodexo employs around 30,000 people, and partners with clients in many sectors across business and industry; schools and universities; sports and leisure; energy and resources; government and agencies; healthcare; justice and defence.

Sodexo’s connected; people-centric approach brings together a diverse range of expertise. The breadth of services it offers ranges from food and hospitality; cleaning; reception; concierge (Circles); security; property management and technical services through to data driven workplace strategy and design (Wx); employee engagement and recognition services (Sodexo Engage) and personal home services through Prestige Nursing + Care and the Good Care Group.

Vital Spaces is Sodexo’s value proposition that puts people at the heart of everything we do, bringing together services and solutions and focusing on the productivity and wellbeing of people wherever they are.

Sodexo is committed to being an inclusive employer; we welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds and identities.

We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer. We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations.

We are building on our support to the Armed Forces community through the development of specific pathways within our recruitment process to  support ex-forces personnel and reservists, those applying for jobs with us who meet the ideal candidate criteria for the role advertised are guaranteed to progress to the selection process