What is a Concession Manager?

Concession managers are in charge of concession areas at sites like amusement parks and sports stadiums. Read on to see if a career as a concessions manager would be a good choice for you, and find out what training is required to enter this career field.

Career Defined

A concession manager is a position in the hospitality and food service industry in which you are responsible for all aspects of a concession area or stand. You would be responsible for ensuring that items are in stock and ready for use. If the items are not readily available, you will place the order to fill inventory to the necessary capacity. Another major responsibility of a concession manager is to be able to properly maintain and motivate an appropriate level of staff.

Important Facts About Concessions Managers

Professional Certification	Voluntary; Food Protection Managers Certification (FPMC) available through the American Standards Institute
Key Skills	Customer focused, delegation, organization, time management, problem solving, clear spoken and written communication, business acumen, social nuance
Work Environment	Stadiums and arenas; theme parks; shopping centers
Similar Occupations	Lodging managers; sales managers; chefs; head cooks; bartenders; waiters and waitresses

Job Requirements

You need several traits and requirements to be a concessions manager, and being able to communicate well with others is one of the most desired traits. Knowledge of your products and services is another big part of the job. You must work well in a fast-paced and sometimes hectic work environment. Since you will be in charge of others, many employers want you to have some previous management training or experience. Because it is a job that requires the distribution of physical goods, you may be required to perform some manual labor tasks.

Education

There are no set educational requirements to be a concessions manager. However, many employers look for applicants with first-hand experience working in concessions. You could increase your skill set by earning an associate's or bachelor's degree in food service or management. If you do pursue a degree program, some of the classes you may take include psychology, management, business, sanitation, and accounting.

Career Outlook and Salary Information

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, www.bls.gov) does not track concession managers as a separate category, but includes them among food service managers. The BLS predicted that this career field would grow by 10% from 2021-2031. The BLS also noted that high turnover in food services management creates a steady stream of job opportunities in the field.

In May 2021, The BLS reported that the middle 50% of food service managers earned between $46,590-$76,130 annually. The average annual wage can vary greatly, depending on job location. For example, in 2021, food service managers in Nevada earned an average annual salary of $52,950, while a comparable position in Tennessee paid $51,320 a year, according to the BLS.