Head of Operations

About AFC Wimbledon and the Cherry Red Records Stadium

AFC Wimbledon is a professional football club with a distinctive supporter-led history. Re-established by fans in 2002 to preserve 135 years of Wimbledon sporting representation, the Dons returned to Plough Lane in 2020 and now operate from the Cherry Red Records Stadium, a modern 9,000-capacity venue. The stadium was financed largely by supporters and hosts football, other professional sports, and community events. It is the newest stadium in the English Football League.

The club is majority fan-owned through The Dons Trust, where all 7,500 members have the same voting rights and stake. The men’s team competes in EFL League One, the women’s team plays in the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier, the Academy supports the next generation of players, and the AFC Wimbledon Foundation runs award-winning community and charity work across south London.

The stadium is built to serve supporters, players, guests, and staff with high-quality facilities. Its calendar now includes men’s and women’s football, rugby league, American football, and a growing programme of conferences and events. AFC Wimbledon is also proud of its matchday experience, which was recently ranked joint 2nd across the 72 EFL clubs based on supporter feedback, and it has received a Gold standard award for Family Excellence in the EFL.

Role overview

The club is looking for an experienced, hands-on Head of Operations to take ownership of key stadium and training ground operations and to ensure major matchdays and events are delivered safely and successfully. The role will lead operational delivery across most major matchdays at the stadium, which total around 40 each year, in addition to other fixtures and events hosted at the venue.

This position covers a mixed operating model made up of internal teams and external suppliers. It includes oversight of maintenance, security, health and safety, reception, IT, grounds care, catering, stadium security, stadium presentation, and other trusted partners. The club also plans to appoint an Operations Manager to help support this workload and share major matchday responsibilities.

The role is responsible for year-round smooth running of the stadium, with a strong emphasis on event delivery. It also includes oversight of the first team training ground and Academy site, currently based at a nearby third-party site in New Malden.

The Head of Operations reports to the Managing Director, sits on the stadium leadership team, and may be asked to present to the club board. The role also contributes to the club’s Development Committee, which includes board members and trusted advisors.

Day-to-day collaboration will involve the football department, the commercial team, marketing, catering leadership, and senior contacts at London Broncos Rugby League team and Chelsea Women F.C., both of whom use the stadium for fixtures. The role also requires close working relationships with the Safety Advisory Group, MET Police, Merton Council, the Head of Security, and local resident groups.

What the role involves

• Shape operational plans so they support the club’s wider strategy and long-term direction.
• Plan and deliver ground hire and event commitments effectively so clients receive a high-quality experience.
• Run the stadium’s day-to-day operations and ensure facilities and services remain compliant, safe, and fit for purpose.
• Lead, develop, and motivate the operations team, including performance reviews and career support.
• Manage partner and supplier contracts across catering, security, grounds, cleaning, waste, pest control, and hard services.
• Keep all stadium areas clean, safe, and presented to a high standard.
• Maintain strong working relationships with key venue partners, including London Broncos Rugby League team and Chelsea Women F.C.
• Work with councils, the Safety Advisory Group, and the police on operational and safety matters.
• Oversee building maintenance activity, asset upkeep, and planned works in line with SFG20 maintenance standards.
• Partner with internal and external security teams to protect people, property, and operations, and respond to incidents when needed.
• Work with the IT team and Ultima to maintain reliable and secure systems across networks, ticketing, communications, digital, visual, and audio platforms.
• Supervise grounds maintenance so the pitch and surrounding areas remain in top condition for events, including the training ground.
• Apply and enforce health and safety policies, complete safety checks, and maintain compliance with relevant regulations and insurance requirements.
• Coordinate with event teams on logistics, staffing, crowd movement, and scheduling to avoid clashes with other work or events.
• Build and manage budgets, monitor spending, and identify opportunities to improve efficiency.
• Lead capital works planning and delivery, oversee contractor performance, manage vendor relationships, and act as overall budget holder for stadium CAPEX.
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to support effective stadium operations.
• Drive continuous improvement, innovation, and sustainability across operations.

Experience and requirements

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in operations management, ideally within a sports stadium or other large event venue.
• A bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Facility Management, or a similar subject is preferred.
• Proven ability to lead a varied team, communicate well, and bring a positive, proactive mindset.
• Working knowledge of health and safety rules, security requirements, PPM compliance, COSHH, and facilities regulations.
• Desirable familiarity with IT systems, security processes, and facilities management software.
• Strong financial capability, including budgeting, budget control, understanding P&L, and managing a department financially.
• Good analytical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to act quickly during operational issues or emergencies.
• Strong customer focus and the ability to improve the venue experience.
• Willingness to work evenings, weekends, and other irregular hours to match the event calendar.
• Ability to move around the stadium and access different areas as required.

Additional information

Staff are expected to represent the club positively and to reflect its values of Togetherness, Constant Improvement, and Resilience. The club also asks applicants to complete a diversity monitoring form; participation is optional, and any information provided is anonymous and will not be seen by hiring managers.

Applications are handled by an external sports recruitment agency on behalf of AFC Wimbledon. Because of the volume of interest, the club is unable to offer detailed feedback to unsuccessful candidates.

Working style

This is a full-time, on-site role based in London.