Area Manager

First Recruitment Services; Horsham; Hybrid; GBP 42,981,000 - 46,287,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

24/7 NHS-approved GP telephone and

prescription services

Access to the UK's largest employee

discount platform

Specialist medical support helpline

Weekly pay for convenience

National gym discounts

24/7 mental health and counselling

Job summary

First Recruitment Services is seeking an Area Manager to oversee up to 15 school catering sites across West Sussex. This hands-on role demands a strong catering background with school-facing experience and operational problem-solving.

Working hours are 9:00am–5:00pm, Monday to Friday (37.5 hours/week) with travel between sites and a mix of home working and local office use. Immediate start on a temporary basis until year-end.

Qualifications

• Previous catering management experience
• Multi-site or Area Manager experience preferred
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills
• Full UK Driving Licence and own transport essential

Responsibilities

• Managing up to 15 school catering locations
• Building strong relationships with schools and stakeholders
• Supporting site teams and resolving operational issues
• Ensuring food safety, compliance, and service standards are maintained
• Travelling between sites throughout the week, with a mix of home working and local office use

Skills

Catering management

Multi-site management

Communication

Driving license

Job description

Area Manager - Education Catering

£16.00 per hour | Immediate Start | Temporary until End of Year

We're looking for an experienced Area Manager to support up to 15 school catering sites across West Sussex.

This is a hands-on role for someone with a strong catering background, ideally having progressed from Chef Manager or multi-site management, with experience dealing directly with schools, clients, and operational challenges.

The Role:

• Managing up to 15 school catering locations


• Building strong relationships with schools and stakeholders


• Supporting site teams and resolving operational issues


• Ensuring food safety, compliance, and service standards are maintained


• Travelling between sites throughout the week, with a mix of home working and local office use

Hours:

• Monday to Friday


• 9:00am to 5:00pm


• 37.5 hours per week

Requirements:

• Previous catering management experience


• Multi-site or Area Manager experience preferred


• Strong communication and problem-solving skills


• Full UK Driving Licence and own transport essential

Why Join Us?

Working through First Recruitment Services, you'll have access to a suite of employee benefits designed to support your wellbeing and professional satisfaction:

• 24/7 NHS-approved GP telephone and prescription services


• Access to the UK's largest employee discount platform


• Specialist medical support helpline


• Weekly pay for convenience
  
• National gym discounts


• 24/7 mental health and counselling support