JCA - Operations Manager, Amsterdam

Overview: 

Johan Cruijff Arena 

The Johan Cruijff Arena (JCA) is home to Ajax Amsterdam, the Dutch National Team and a range other concerts and other events. As home to high-profile football matches and spectacular concerts the JCA aims to be the best when it comes to fan experience, mobility, safety, sustainability, facility management and digitization. We believe that innovation makes all the difference. Our ambition is to be a state-of-the-art stadium now and in the future. 

Peppermint 

Peppermint provide high-performance festival bars and event solutions to the world’s best entertainment businesses and consumer brands. Our core business is operating festival bars, event bars, festival brand activation and conjoined retail-led F & B solutions to the UK’s best sports events, festivals and outdoor events. 

Levy Europe 

Levy is a market leader in providing catering solutions at the leading stadia across North America, UK and Europe. Levy is part of Compass Group, a FTSE 100 listed company with over 600,000 global employees and operations in 55,000 global locations. Levy Europe mix the local operational expertise of Compass Netherlands with Levy’s sport stadia expertise in the UK and further afield. 

Contribution to society 

JCA and Levy Europe have clear shared goals: we want to make a positive impact on our environment and the communities and societies we reside in. 

The partnership Levy/Peppermint 

The goal of the partnership is to combine Peppermints festival, events and beer knowledge with Levy’s stadium expertise and together create a fantastic customer focused experience. 

The role: 

The Operations Manager will support the Peppermint and the Levy management team with the operation of the North Stand during matchdays and the Field Bars during concerts, to optimise sales, profitability and guest service, underpinned by a structured approach with appropriate focus on compliance with relevant company polices, standards and employment principles. 

Reporting to Peppermint and through close liaison with Levy Deputy General Manager & Venue Catering Director you will be directly responsible for the key result areas below. This role will lead the day-to-today operations for the rest of the North stand & pitch bars for the JCA with the wider support team. 

We are looking for someone with Festival Bar, Stadium or Venue GM experience that has an amazing attention to detail, loves customer service, can lead a team and has a passion for the industry. 

You will have to have cellar systems knowledge, a strong operational management history, forecasting and reporting abilities and great communication skills. 

Salary for this role is €45,000 + KPI based bonus

Key Accountabilities: 

Operational skills 

• Ownership of the day-to-day delivery of consistent and exceptional product quality and service standards 
• Readiness to trade – Oversee and ensure that all services within remit are ready for operation at specific times and to the agreed standard. 
• Guest Focus – Champion the guest focused culture, continually sharing and acting on client and customer feedback 
• Communications – Directly liaise with client representatives and your Team Managers to ensure that communication and expectations are clear. Use structured, regular and consistent meetings as a key tool. Lead weekly update meetings with Peppermint team. 
• Structure – Focus on the set up and layout of food and beverage units, allowing quick service. 

People and staffing 

• Establish and maintain a high standard of staff performance and exceptional customer service. 
• Ensure pre match/concert briefings are delivered 
• Ensure staffing levels are at the correct levels and to budget at all times. 

• Development of the team to be the best that they can be. 
• Oversight of recruitment & staffing procedures 

Stock 

• Oversight of stock management and wastage 
• Forecasting 
• Ordering 
• Hitting GP% targets 

Finance 

• You will be fully commercially accountable, working with the Finance Manager to deliver accurate and timely forecasts and budgets. 
• Taking control of all operating costs and continually analysing key performance data to identify opportunities for growth. 
• Ensure EPOS systems are working correctly and communicate any problems 

H&S 

• To ensure that paperwork is being correctly completed by all departments. 
• Monitor and maintain the Health and Safety policy, process and culture across the venue 

Contacts and Key Relationships: 

• Venue Catering Director
• Levy Deputy General Manager
• Stock Managers
• Client Representatives
• Finance Team 
• Staffing Team 

Technical/ Behavioural/ Personal Competencies: 

• A naturally confident leader, with senior management experience to inspire large operational teams to deliver results – min years’ experience at F & B ops level. 
• Passionate about people – building and developing teams. 
• Positive and passionate focus on food – a natural flare for hospitality. 
• Experienced in leading the implementation of projects and change programmes. 
• Comfortable working with cellars, MDUS and with Tank beer 
• Experience of working with a client group. 
• Previous P&L accountability and evidence of commercial nous. 
• Exudes confidence, energy and charisma. 
• Can effectively switch between being the leader and a team player 
• Calm and resilient. Not deterred by an ‘unforeseen challenge’ 
• Problem solving skills. 
• Willing to work evening and weekends as required 

To apply, please complete the form below, including an upload of your CV.