Job Introduction
At Gather & Gather Stadia, we specialise in hospitality for community-focused sports venues, delivering locally inspired, high-quality food and drink that elevates both the 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
Salary: £40,000 - £45,000 per annum, depending on experience
Working Pattern: 5 out of 7 days (including weekends, evenings & 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 exciting 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 including:
- Coordinate with Facilities and Maintenance to ensure all upgrades and repairs are planned and delivered on time.
Person Specification
Essential
- 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 has its perks! People are at the heart of everything we do, so we've developed a range of benefits to keep you happy.
- Personal Development and Training opportunities
- Life assurance scheme
- Pension scheme
- Holiday allowance
- Access to Healthcare Support App which includes 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 some great high street discount vouchers