Account Director - Wisley

Equipment Sales & Service Limited.; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 68,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading premium hospitality provider in the UK seeks a Senior Catering Manager to oversee operations across various food outlets. This role emphasizes excellence in customer service, financial management, and team leadership, offering a competitive salary of £80,000 per annum. Ideal candidates should have substantial experience in contract catering or venue management, complemented by strong leadership skills. Join a dynamic team dedicated to providing exceptional service and enhancing guest experiences in iconic venues.

Benefits

27 days holiday + bank holidays

Discretionary bonus scheme

Competitive pension contribution

Comprehensive private medical & health care benefits

Enhanced maternity/paternity pay

Free staff meals whilst working on site

Opportunities for growth and development

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3+ years proven experience in a similar senior/regional role.
• Strong financial acumen with a track record of delivering against budgets.
• Inspirational leader with excellent communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations across multiple catering outlets.
• Take ownership of the full P&L, including forecasting and financial reporting.
• Deliver and exceed standards in customer service and food quality.

Skills

Operational leadership

Financial management

Customer service excellence

Marketing and sales growth

Team development

Job description

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations across the multiple catering outlets on site, consisting of restaurants, coffee shops, and event spaces
• Take ownership of the full P&L, including forecasting, and financial reporting to internal senior stakeholders
• Co‑create and implement strategic plans with RHS Wisley and internal teams to ensure the guests experience the highest standard of food and beverage on offer
• Champion employee engagement, wellbeing, and team development on site
• Deliver and exceed standards in customer service, food quality, and compliance
• Drive sales growth through creative marketing and events planning with an innovative approach to increase potential sales and market position
• Act as the on-site cultural ambassador, fostering a positive and inclusive workplace
• Inspire a team to embody the Restaurant Associates Venues culture and work with the senior operators on site to continue implementing this.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3+ years proven experience in a similar senior/regional role.
• Proven experience in previous contract catering, hospitality and/or venue management roles.
• Ideally worked in a similar environment – heritage/culture visitor attraction venue with multiple different food offering operations – grab & go, restaurants, events‑based dining such as canapes and bowl food.
• Strong financial acumen and track record of delivering against budgets.
• Inspirational leader with excellent communication and stakeholder skills.
• Commercially savvy and results‑driven, with a focus on continuous improvement along with strong KPI management.
• Passionate about food, service, and guest experience.
• Confident, client‑facing, and calm under pressure.
• Able to balance strategic thinking with operational delivery.

About the Company

Restaurant Associates is a leading premium hospitality provider with an ethos drawn from our history of fine and high-quality dining in London and New York.

Within our venues team, we provide catering and hospitality services to some of the most iconic visitor attractions and destinations in the UK including the Imperial War Museum London, Glyndebourne Opera House, Knebworth House, Design Museum, Whipsnade Zoo and many more. Within these amazing venues we operate a host of bespoke caf s and restaurants, as well as delivering private events ranging from small meetings to large‑scale ground events of up to 1000 people. You can find a full list of our venues on our website. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive, diverse, fun, and dynamic place to work with opportunities to collaborate with a wide range of teams plus a commitment to putting our people first.

Restaurant Associates is an equal-opportunity employer and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds. As a business, we are committed to sustainability‑led practices and are proud to have achieved 3 stars with the Sustainable Restaurant Association's Food Made Good Programme.

Compensation & Contracts

Salary: 80,000 per annum (open to slight negotiation for the right candidate)

Contract: Full‑Time, Permanent, 5 out of 7 days per week

Benefits

• 27 days holiday + bank holidays
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Competitive pension contribution offer
• Comprehensive private medical & health care benefits
• Enhanced maternity/paternity pay
• Free staff meals whilst working on site
• A supportive, values‑driven culture within cohesive teams
• Opportunities for growth and development within a national business
• A chance to make a meaningful impact in a continuously growing sector