Food and Beverage Catering Lead

SailGP; City of London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sports organization in London is seeking a skilled hospitality leader to enhance premium food and beverage experiences for VIP guests. Responsibilities include managing catering operations across international events, collaborating with elite culinary talents, and ensuring sustainability and compliance in all offerings. Candidates must exhibit luxury hospitality experience, strong leadership skills, and the capability to perform under pressure in dynamic environments. This hybrid role includes extensive international travel.

Qualifications

• Five-star luxury hospitality experience, ideally with Michelin-level dining or global events.
• Experience in delivering premium food and beverage programs at scale.
• Strong leadership presence with guest-facing expertise.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of food and beverage experiences across VIP and Premium hospitality.
• Manage international catering operations and partner with elite chefs.
• Ensure compliance with food safety regulations and operational standards.

Skills

Leadership

Event management

Culinary collaboration

Sustainability practices

Budget management

Attention to detail

Job description

About

The Rolex SailGP Championship is the most exciting racing on water, where anything can happen in short, adrenaline-fueled battles between national teams at iconic stadium destinations worldwide. Top athletes fly in identical high-tech F50 catamarans faster than the wind, at speeds in excess of 100km/h (60mph). Founded in 2018, SailGP is one of the world’s fastest-growing sports and entertainment properties, now in its sixth season.

SailGP also races for a better future, championing a world powered by nature. Underpinning the organization’s purpose-driven agenda is a diversification of the league, with the goal of immediately progressing gender equity and inclusivity.

SailGP is a global organisation with defined values that shape the culture of its team – Deliver Quality and Consistency; Evolve with Focus; Make it Count; Stand Together and Strike a Balance.

Summary

Lead the delivery of premium food and beverage experiences across SailGP VIP and Premium hospitality. Responsibilities include managing international catering operations, collaborating with elite chefs, ensuring sustainability and safety compliance, and aligning hospitality with commercial goals. Requires luxury hospitality experience, strong leadership, attention to detail, and the ability to perform under pressure.

Key Responsibilities

Experience‑Led Food & Beverage Delivery

• Deliver elevated food and beverage experiences across all SailGP VIP and Premium products.
• Curate destination‑led, contemporary menus that reflect SailGP’s global footprint and progressive brand
• Collaborate with celebrity and elite chefs to create distinctive culinary moments that enhance the overall event narrative
• Ensure all offerings balance innovation, quality and consistency while remaining operationally scalable

High‑Performance Event Operations

• Manage end-to-end catering operations across SailGP’s international race calendar
• Lead catering partners, suppliers and hospitality teams to perform at the highest level in live, broadcast‑led environments
• Ensure compliance with local food safety regulations, licensing and SailGP operational standards
• Drive efficiency, precision and adaptability in fast‑moving, high‑performance event conditions

Sustainability & Responsible Hospitality

• Support SailGP’s commitment to sustainability through responsible sourcing, waste reduction and local partnerships
• Work with suppliers and chefs to implement sustainable catering practices without compromising quality or experience

Financial & Commercial Alignment

• Manage food and beverage budgets with a focus on experience value, quality and commercial responsibility
• Deliver cost control while protecting SailGP’s premium positioning
• Support commercial partnerships and sponsor integrations through thoughtful, brand‑aligned hospitality execution

Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead, motivate and develop on‑site hospitality and service teams
• Work closely with the Director of Experience, Event Operations, Commercial, Brand teams and Local Organising Committees
• Be a collaborative, solutions‑focused leader in high‑pressure, multi‑stakeholder environments

About You

Essential

• Proven five-star luxury hospitality experience (luxury hotels, premium catering, Michelin-level dining or global events)
• Experience delivering premium food and beverage programmes at scale
• Strong front‑of‑house leadership with a polished, confident guest‑facing presence
• Established access to celebrity, Michelin or elite chefs
• Highly organised, detail‑driven and adaptable
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively internationally
• Calm, resilient and decisive under pressure
• Performance‑driven with an eye for detail and innovation
• Passionate about hospitality, food and experience design
• Culturally aware and globally minded
• Hands‑on leader who sets the standard by example
• Energised by live sport, fast‑paced delivery and global environments

Desirable

• Experience within elite sport, Formula 1, yachting or major global events
• Experience delivering hospitality across multiple audience tiers simultaneously
• Strong understanding of premium beverage programmes including fine wine, champagne and signature cocktails

Key Expectations

• Advocates SailGP Values and contributes to a positive culture
• Inclusive manager, welcoming different perspectives and empowering others through direct management, project or operational teams
• Operate with a financially responsible mindset
• Consider how each team action contributes to Better Sport, Better Planet
• Proposes innovative strategies and solutions to complex challenges, articulating them succinctly and persuasively
• Recognises the importance of emotional intelligence in people interactions and fostering positive working environments, exercising this in their day to day
• Receptive to feedback utilising this to develop themselves and SailGP

Location

SailGP HQ in London, United Kingdom. Hybrid working model with a minimum of 3 days per week in the London Office. Travel is essential.

SailGP is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace committed to building a team culture that celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion.