Head of Food & Beverage

The Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games will be hosted in Los Angeles, California in 2028, returning to the United States for the first time in over 30 years. 2028 will be the first time LA hosts the Paralympic Games, creating an opportunity to expand awareness, understanding and inclusion of people with disabilities.

LA28, the organizers for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, is on a mission to create an unparalleled Games experience for athletes, fans, partners, our community and our people. Our vision is to collectively create what’s next through sport, community and the power of our differences.

The 2028 Olympics and Paralympics will represent LA and leverage the strength of our community’s diversity and creativity as we collectively work to design a Games that we all want to be a part of. We do this by focusing on people and by inviting everyone into the story of the LA28 Games.

The LA28 organizing committee is an independent, non-profit organization that is privately funded and governed by a board of directors. 

Our Vision is to collectively create what’s next by harnessing sport, community and the power of our differences. Our Mission is to create an unparalleled Paralympic and Olympic Games for athletes, fans, partners, our community and our people.

Values and Behaviors:

• Optimism – Embody a positive, enthusiastic, and solution-oriented attitude in everything we do; challenge the status quo, inspire and support one another to achieve our best; have our eyes on the future and believe we can make a meaningful impact
• Integrity – We communicate openly and honestly, listen, and respectfully value multiple perspectives; we do what we say and are accountable for everything we do; we do the right thing, always. Even when it isn’t easy
• Excellence – We hold ourselves to the highest standard and expectations; we live our values and truths and persevere through challenges; we are continuous learners and adapt and pivot with speed to meet changing needs
• Inclusion – We seek to represent, include, empower and level the playing field; our work reflects the communities we serve and the world in which we live; we leverage our platforms to bring awareness to issues relevant to who we are
• Co-Creation – We are authors of a shared story. Everyone contributes their unique voice to our shared mission; we share pride in our accomplishments and ownership of our shortcomings
• Boldness – We embrace creativity, courage and outside-the-box thinking; we are unafraid to take risks, explore unconventional solutions, and learn from the process; we are innovators, disruptors, and challengers of the status quo

Head of Food & Beverage

The Games Delivery Revenue team oversees the Ticketing, Hospitality, Accommodations and Food & Beverage departments.  This department is responsible for securing key revenue streams for LA28, ensuring sold out and fully attended events, creating a robust and integrated accommodations strategy that supports our key stakeholders and operational needs, and delivering a comprehensive food and beverage plan for fans, stakeholders, the world’s press and broadcasters, workforce, and athletes. 

Reporting to the SVP, Games Delivery Revenue, the Senior Director of Food & Beverage will be responsible for the creation, planning, and execution of the food and beverage strategy for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.  They will oversee the entire Food & Beverage department, responsible for managing a 9-figure budget and delivering over 15M meals over the course of the Games.  They will drive the strategic approach for partnerships, ensure operational feasibility of F&B delivery, and find revenue generation and cost savings opportunities.  As Head of Food & Beverage, they will oversee all aspects of operations, from planning and procurement to execution and guest satisfaction. This role requires meticulous planning, strong leadership, and a deep understanding of complex projects and hospitality standards. 

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership 

• Hire, train, motivate, and evaluate department staff 
• Directly supervise multiple sub-functions including commercial strategy, contract negotiations, operations, and Athlete Village  
• Develop, optimize, and adhere to departmental budget with clear steps to implement, monitor, and appropriately measure plan deliverables 
• Develop a clear growth plan for the department from present through Games time 
• Stay updated on industry trends and innovations to continuously improve the food and beverage experience. 

Commercial Strategy 

• Work with key LA28 FAs and external stakeholders to create LA28’s Food Vision, including overall strategy, integration with sustainability plan, menu development, and service levels by constituent group 
• Co-create approach to supplier partnerships with the Sponsorship team 
• Develop and manage/oversee RFP strategy, development, and execution for master catering deals 
• Oversee all contract negotiations with existing venue incumbent caterers 
• Determine approach to F&B at the Athlete Village 
• Implement cost-control measures without compromising quality or guest satisfaction 
• Review, adjust, and manage the F&B budget. 

Operations 

• Establish all core planning principles, including operational and service design plan 
• Fully understand the unique requirements of each stakeholder group 
• Build operational plans for competition venues, non-competition venues, and the Athlete Village 
• Define all spaces, including both BOH & FOH kitchens, and construction needed to deliver required F&B services 
• Develop Food Safety strategy and policies and venue plans for the delivery and storage of safe food 
• Ensure integration with other key functional areas for seamless delivery of F&B services 
• Manage and oversee execution of all F&B operations across all venues 
• Implement sustainable practices in food sourcing, waste reduction, and energy efficiency. 

Cross-Functional Collaboration 

• Establish close working relationships with key functional areas (especially Venues & Infrastructure, Venue Management, Cleaning & Waste, and Integrated Operations) to ensure the Food & Beverage strategy maximizes revenue opportunities, minimizes costs, and works effectively within operational constraints 
• Work with the IOC and IPC to understand all requirements get strategic buy-in, and expedite approval processes where necessary 

Background & Qualifications:

• Minimum 10-years of relevant industry experience in catering, preferably with 5 years of leadership experience in the sport or live event industry 
• Experience managing high-volume food operations, particularly in sports and special events 
• Familiarity with the latest food and beverage companies and technology 
• Experience working with a diverse range of stakeholders and proven success at building excellent working relationships 
• Experience of delivering complex projects on time and within budget  
• Experience working with senior executives across multiple functional areas  
• Excellent leadership skills with track record of people development and budget achievement 
• Extremely detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills 
• Strong communication, team building, and interpersonal skills 
• Well-developed problem-solving skills and ability to work independently to resolve issues 
• Fluent working with Office suite products including Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint 
• Self-starter with experience in defining tasks, seeking feedback, and evolving work where applicable 
• A collaborative mindset: someone who prioritizes the team and fosters a culture of high performance without ego 
• An innovative viewpoint, challenging the status quo and thinking ahead to future years of the Movement  
• Ability to implement and manage change effectively 
• Demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) 
• Collaborate with procurement teams to ensure supplier diversity in all RFPs, particularly in food and beverage contracts.
• Oversee menu development to ensure culturally inclusive food offerings, accommodating the needs and preferences of diverse stakeholders, including athletes, spectators, and staff from various cultural backgrounds.
• Ensure all food and beverage operations, particularly at the Athlete Village and venues, are inclusive and accessible to people of all abilities.

Position Requirements:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree required 

The annual base salary range for this position is $175,000.00 - $200,000.00. The pay scale provided is the range that LA28 reasonably expects to pay as starting base compensation for this role. All LA28 compensation remains subject to final determination based on individual candidate qualifications, experience, or other reasonable criteria consistent with LA28’s operational business needs and applicable law.

LA28 does not provide relocation assistance.

LA28 is committed to operating fair and unbiased recruitment procedures allowing all applicants an equal opportunity for employment, free from discrimination on the basis of religion, race, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, color, ethnic or national origin, or any other classification as may be protected by applicable law. We strive to build a team that is diverse, inclusive and encourages qualified candidates of all backgrounds, perspectives, and identities to apply. We will consider all qualified candidates with criminal histories in a manner consistent with local law. We assess applications based on relevant skills, education, and experience a candidate can add to our team.