Head of Retail

Job Title: Head of Retail

Location: The Valley, London SE7
Reporting to: General Catering Manager
Working Pattern: 5 out of 7 days (including weekends, evenings & matchdays)
Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Salary up to 55k

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 and 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
• Private medical eligibility
• 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

About Us

As part of Compass you'll help to feed people, fuel progress and forge connections in around 6,000 venues. Join us to grow your career with the industry leader, and get competitive pay, great perks and unrivalled opportunities for learning and development, at one of the UK's biggest businesses.

Job Reference: com/1209/48675001/52762444/SU #Gather and Gather

Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!