Arena ManagerMK Dons

Arena Manager

Employer: MK B&B

Location: Stadium MK, Milton Keynes

Salary: £40,000 - £42,000 p/a

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours p/w (5 days out of 7)

Closing Date:

About Us

Stadium MK is a 30,530-seat multi-purpose venue in Milton Keynes, home to MK Dons Football Club. Since opening in 2007, the stadium has become a leading destination for sport, events, and hospitality.

The site also includes the DoubleTree by Hilton Milton Keynes, a 304-bedroom hotel, and Arena MK, a versatile space hosting conferences, exhibitions, and live events. Together, these facilities create a dynamic and fast-paced environment offering a wide range of experiences for guests and clients alike.

The Role

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Arena Manager to lead the planning and delivery of events and Catering & Hospitality operations at Arena MK and across Stadium MK. This is an exciting opportunity to lead large teams, deliver exceptional guest experiences and drive operational performance across a diverse range of events and hospitality services.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver outstanding customer service to all guests and visitors
• Plan and deliver events to exceed guest expectations and meet company standards.
• Lead and coordinate Arena events and wider Stadium catering operations.
• Manage staffing, rotas and labour costs in line with business needs and budgets.
• Oversee service delivery, ensuring compliance with health & safety, hygiene, licensing and company procedures.
• Lead, motivate and develop teams, promoting high performance and a one-team approach.
• Build strong relationships with guests, colleagues and key stakeholders.
• Monitor budgets, maximise revenue and control operational costs.
• Review guest and team feedback to improve service standards and operational performance.

What We’re Looking For:

• A minimum of 3 years’ experience in a management role, ideally within hospitality or events.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate and develop large teams to achieve high performance and exceed targets.
• Experience managing large-scale events, with 4,000 or more attendees.
• Excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills, with a strong focus on guest satisfaction.
• Strong commercial awareness, with the ability to manage budgets, control costs and maximise revenue.
• A positive, professional and resilient approach, with the ability to make decisions and work effectively under pressure.
• A valid Personal Licence.
• Flexibility to work 5 days out of 7, including evenings, weekends and event days as required.

Additional Information:

This role involves working in a busy, event-driven environment, including evenings and weekends. You will be responsible for overseeing large-scale events, managing operational teams and ensuring the safe and efficient delivery of catering and hospitality services. A Personal Licence is essentialfor this role.

If you are an experienced hospitality professional with a passion for events, strong leadership skills and the drive to deliver outstanding guest experiences, we would love to hear from you.

Why Join Us?

• Lead the delivery of exciting events at Arena MK and across Stadium MK.
• Work in a dynamic environment hosting major events, live entertainment and sporting occasions.
• Lead, motivate and develop a large team within a supportive, collaborative business.
• Take ownership of operational performance, service standards and financial results.
• Make a real impact on guest experiences and the continued success of our Catering & Hospitality operations.

Our Commitment

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values diversity and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.

Safeguarding

We are dedicated to providing a safe and secure environment for all. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and all team members are expected to uphold our policies and procedures.