Constellation Lead - The Kia Oval

Constellation Lead – The Kia Oval

Location: The Kia Oval, London

Hours: 40 hours per week, 5 days out of 7, including evenings and weekends. Site based.

Salary: £40,000 per annum

Lead the team. Drive the season forward.

We’re looking for a dynamic, strategic and hands-on leader to take ownership of Constellation’s people operation at The Kia Oval.

With a busy 2027 cricket season ahead, you’ll lead the recruitment, planning and deployment of a workforce of up to 1,500+ casual catering and hospitality staff, working closely with Oval Events Limited (OEL), Levy and the wider Constellation team to deliver exceptional operational standards.

You’ll manage a team of two Regional People Consultants, drive recruitment and retention, improve workforce efficiency and build a high-performing team that delivers outstanding service across every event.

What you’ll be doing

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead the Constellation People Operations function at The Kia Oval, managing, coaching and developing Regional People Consultants.
• Set clear objectives, drive accountability and promote a high-performance culture focused on staff welfare, engagement and retention.

Staffing Strategy & Event Delivery

• Lead recruitment, workforce planning and deployment of 1,500+ casual staff across event and non-event days.
• Work with Heads of Department to ensure appropriate staffing levels and quality across Retail, Hospitality, Culinary, Logistics and Support Functions.
• Drive continuous improvement across recruitment, staff allocation, attendance and operational delivery.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Act as the senior Constellation contact for The Kia Oval client and key stakeholders, building strong relationships and aligning staffing solutions with operational and commercial objectives.

Workforce Planning & Cost Control

• Own labour forecasting, planning and reporting, using data to improve efficiency and control costs.
• Reduce agency reliance by maximising Constellation staff deployment while maintaining service standards and working within agreed budgets.

Compliance, Payroll & Governance

• Ensure compliance with employment legislation, health and safety, food hygiene and company policies.
• Oversee staff bookings, time and attendance, timesheets, payroll accuracy and external agency administration.

Engagement & Recognition

• Lead Reward & Recognition initiatives to improve engagement, retention and performance.
• Champion Constellation values, staff welfare and a positive workplace culture.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Share best practice across the venue and wider Constellation team to improve consistency and operational efficiency.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Minimum 2 years’ senior leadership experience in People Operations, workforce planning or staffing within hospitality or events.
• Proven experience managing large casual workforces and multi-department operations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach and develop teams.
• Experience managing budgets, labour costs and financial reporting.
• Strong stakeholder management, operational planning and decision-making skills.
• Professional, organised and confident in resolving complex issues.

Personal Attributes

• Energetic, people-focused and passionate about service excellence.
• Resilient, calm and solutions-focused under pressure.
• Approachable leader who drives accountability and builds trust.
• Commercially aware, proactive and a strong ambassador for Constellation and Compass UK & Ireland.

What’s in it for you?

· 23 days annual leave plus your birthday off

· Time off in lieu for any additional hours worked

· Flexible approach to working patterns aligned to business needs

· Opportunity to work across some of the UK’s leading event and hospitality venues

· A dynamic and varied role where no two days are the same

Working pattern: Predominantly site-based, five days out of seven, including evenings, weekends and some bank holidays. Ad-hoc support at other Constellation venues may be required.

Ready to make your mark?

If you’re an ambitious people leader who combines strategic thinking with hands-on delivery, we’d love to hear from you.

Help us build an outstanding team and deliver an exceptional 2027 season at The Kia Oval!