Training Ground Operations Manager

Training Ground Operations Manager

Location: Cobham Training Ground
Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time

Closing date: 19th October

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. In the event that we receive a large number of applications, the position may be filled before the listed closing date. To avoid missing out, please submit your application at your earliest convenience.

The Opportunity

Chelsea Football Club is looking for an exceptional Training Ground Operations Manager to lead and coordinate day-to-day operations across our world-class training and performance environments at Cobham and Kingsmeadow.

This is a highly visible role at the heart of the Club, responsible for ensuring that football activities, events, fixtures and business operations run seamlessly. Working closely with stakeholders across the Men's, Women's and Academy programmes, as well as business functions, you will be the central point of operational coordination, delivering outstanding service and creating an environment where our teams can perform at their very best.

If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy solving complex operational challenges, and are passionate about delivering excellence behind the scenes, we'd love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee daily operations across Cobham Training Ground and Kingsmeadow.
• Coordinate the planning and delivery of all football, business and site-based activities.
• Act as the primary operational contact for internal stakeholders across the Club.
• Manage operational readiness for training, fixtures, events, meetings and special projects.
• Own and maintain the master operational calendar across both sites.
• Coordinate scheduling activities, ensuring resources and facilities are effectively allocated.
• Build strong relationships across Football, Women's, Academy and Business departments to ensure seamless communication and delivery.
• Identify operational requirements in advance and ensure all stakeholders are aligned on delivery plans.
• Support matchday and event operations, including coordination with broadcasters, officials, suppliers and external partners.
• Develop operational plans, procedures and event documentation.
• Lead post-event reviews and debriefs, driving continuous improvement through lessons learned and action tracking.
• Manage room allocations, meeting spaces and site resource utilisation.
• Coordinate office moves, departmental relocations and workspace planning.
• Oversee visitor management processes and ensure a first-class experience for players, staff and guests.
• Monitor service standards across all departments and continuously seek opportunities to enhance operational performance.

What you will bring

• Significant experience in operational management within a complex and fast-paced environment.
• Strong planning, scheduling and organisational skills.
• Proven experience coordinating events, fixtures, projects or multi-site operations.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills with the ability to build credibility across diverse teams.
• Strong problem-solving ability and confidence making decisions under pressure.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Sound understanding of health & safety, safeguarding and operational risk management.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes consistently.
• A customer-focused mindset with a commitment to delivering outstanding service.

Desirable Experience

• Experience working within elite sport, professional football, venue operations or a similarly high-performance environment.
• Budget management experience.
• Experience managing suppliers and third-party service providers.
• Previous leadership experience within an operations team.

Our Expectations

• To embody the club’s BLUE behaviours (Brave, Lead, Unity, Edge) in the approach to work and interaction with others
• To adhere to the club’s policies and procedures, including Health & Safety, Financial Authorisation, Confidentiality and GDPR.
• To act as an ambassador for diversity, equality, and inclusion, and demonstrate a positive commitment by treating others fairly in line with our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy and reporting any acts of discrimination through appropriate channels
• To create a safe environment and act to protect all young people and vulnerable adults that are either in your care or attending club premises, and report any concerns to the Safeguarding Lead
• To report any misconduct or suspected misconduct to the HR Department

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Chelsea we recognise that the diversity of our people is one of our greatest strengths and we are taking positive action to ensure our existing colleagues and job applicants can fully be themselves and bring their own unique experiences and perspectives to Chelsea FC. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.

If you need reasonable adjustments made to the recruitment process, please reach out to your recruiter, who will be able to advise and support you.

Chelsea FC is fully committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children, young people and adults at risk (vulnerable groups). We therefore require all successful applicants to complete a DBS Check prior to starting employment. Depending on the role, successful applicants may also be required to undergo other child protection screening where appropriate.