Account Director

Aramark Ltd; Hatfield; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Defined contribution pension

Life assurance

Employee benefit scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Mental Health Champions

In-house events

Job summary

Aramark UK is seeking an ambitious and dynamic Account Director to lead operations for a large, multi-campus University in Hertfordshire. This is a senior leadership role balancing operational excellence with commercial performance to deliver exceptional experiences for students and staff.

You will act as the primary contact for university stakeholders, manage multi-site operations with P&L accountability, and implement strategic initiatives to grow the HE catering proposition.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years management experience in a complex multi-campus environment.
• Proven track record in contract catering, preferably in HE or retail.
• Demonstrated leadership and ability to deliver profits.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational and financial performance of the university's catering services.
• Implement strategic initiatives to drive business improvements.
• Engage with team and stakeholders to market and communicate plans.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to develop HE market propositions.
• Ensure HR, hygiene, safety, and food safety compliance.
• Lead contract negotiations and identify growth opportunities.
• Maintain strong client relationships and drive retention.
• Develop operating models with robust commercial acumen.

Skills

Multi-site operations

P&L accountability

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Contract catering

Job description

Aramark UK is seeking an ambitious and dynamic Account Director to lead operations for a large, multi-campus University in Hertfordshire. This is a fantastic opportunity to drive success and deliver exceptional experiences for students and staff. In this senior leadership role, you will balance operational excellence with commercial performance, ensuring our proposition enhances campus life. Acting as the primary point of contact for key university stakeholders, you'll build strong relationships and deliver continual improvement in a complex, fast-paced environment. We're looking for a strategic leader with a proven track record in contract catering, ideally within the university or retail sector. You'll bring experience managing multi-site operations, P&L accountability, and client relationships, combined with an innovative mindset and attention to detail. If you're passionate about operational excellence, commercial growth, and leading high-performing teams, this role offers the perfect platform to make an impact.

A day in the life of an Account Director:

• Lead the operational and financial performance of the university's catering services
• Implement strategic initiatives to drive business improvements
• Engage, market, and communicate effectively with your team and stakeholders
• Collaborate with senior leadership to develop propositions for the higher education market
• Ensure compliance with all HR laws, hygiene, safety, and food safety requirements
• Maintain strict adherence to Aramark policies and procedures
• Conduct regular client reviews and support new business and retention activities
• Lead contract negotiations and identify opportunities for growth
• Maintain and develop strong client relationships
• Demonstrate strong commercial acumen in creating and managing operating models

Minimum 3 years management experience in a complex multi campus environment. Previous experience in the HE and or retail industry Proven track record in delivering budgeted profit levels Ability to demonstrate leadership and success.

Competitive salary

Competitive salary of us to £60,000 dependant on experience

Benefits

Generous annual leave that increases in line with service, with the opportunity to buy extra

Defined contribution pension scheme and life assurance benefits

Access to an employee benefit scheme that offers discounts across hundreds of retail and leisure providers

Employee Assistance Programme and in-house Mental Health Champions

FOOD! A plethora of opportunities to attend in-house events and try out the culinary genius of our teams (we are a food business after all!)