Pivotal Partnerships
Operations and Venue Manager
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Newton Abbot, Devon | Up to £30,000 | Full-time, permanent | 36.25 hours per week
There are jobs where you inherit an operation, follow the processes and keep everything ticking over. This isn’t one of them.
I’m working exclusively with Devon County Football Association to find their next Complex Manager for the County Ground in Newton Abbot.
There is already plenty happening here. A busy 3G pitch, football, hospitality, bar and catering, events, parties, community programmes, education, walking football, women’s football and a wide variety of organisations using the facilities throughout the week.
But there is also considerable potential to do more.
This role is about taking ownership of the day-to-day operation while helping develop the County Ground into a busier, better-known community venue that attracts more people, creates new opportunities and generates additional income to support Devon FA’s wider work across grassroots football.
What will you actually be doing?
- Oversee the operation of the County Ground, including bookings, hospitality, catering and bar activity, events, staff rotas, stock, suppliers, customers and day-to-day venue standards.
- Lead a small established team of permanent and casual staff, working closely with colleagues across Devon FA.
But this isn’t simply about keeping things running.
We want someone who will look at the operation and ask good questions. What could work better? Where are the opportunities? Who else could use the venue? What events could work here? How could we improve the customer experience? Where could we generate additional income?
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And then have the confidence and initiative to do something about it.
You’ll report directly to the CEO and join the Senior Management Team, so there is genuine opportunity to contribute to the wider direction of the organisation too.
Who might this suit?
Your current job title is less important than the experience and approach you can bring.
You might currently be an Assistant Manager, Deputy Manager, Duty Manager, Venue Manager, Events Manager, Hospitality Manager, Leisure Manager, Operations Manager or Venue Supervisor.
Your background could be hospitality, hotels, pubs, leisure, sports venues, events, conference facilities, visitor attractions, holiday parks or another busy customer-facing operation.
You don’t need to come from football.
What matters more is that you can organise an operation, lead people, look after customers, solve problems and spot opportunities.
We’re particularly interested in someone who has a bit of get-up-and-go. Someone who listens before changing things, can challenge constructively, brings solutions rather than simply identifying problems and is happy to get involved when needed.
What’s in it for you?
This is an opportunity to step into a role with real ownership and autonomy.
You’ll join an organisation where the values of Respectful, Inclusive and Positive are intended to be lived day to day, where people muck in, development is encouraged and there is a strong culture of trust and flexibility.
The package includes:
- Salary up to £30,000
- 36.25-hour working week
- 20 days' annual leave plus bank holidays
- Additional closure between Christmas and New Year, depending on how the calendar falls, without using your annual leave allocation
- NOW pension
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Investment in learning and development
- Access to selected England match tickets
- A supportive, close-knit working environment with the opportunity to make a visible difference
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A word about the working pattern
The County Ground is a seven-day operation, so this isn’t a Monday-to-Friday, nine-to-five role.
There will be evenings and weekends when events and activity require you to be there. In return, the culture is based on trust, flexibility and getting the job done rather than watching the clock.
If you’re currently ready for broader responsibility and want the opportunity to take everything you’ve learnt so far and make something your own, I’d really like to hear from you.
You don’t need to decide from an advert whether it is the right move.
That’s what the first conversation is for.
Apply through LinkedIn and I’ll talk you through the opportunity properly, including the good bits, the challenges and what Devon FA is hoping the right person can help them achieve.
Recruitment managed exclusively by Pivotal Recruit, a brand of Pivotal Partnerships Ltd.
The successful applicant will be required to complete a satisfactory DBS check and must be eligible and willing to apply for and hold a Personal Licence for the sale of alcohol. Training and support to obtain the Personal Licence can be provided.
Pivotal Recruit, a brand of Pivotal Partnerships Ltd, is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.
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