Café Manager

OCS; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Award-Winning employer

Digital learning

Retail perks (Hapi app)

Professional growth

Flexible pay (Wagestream)

Job summary

OCS UK & Ireland is seeking a Catering Operations Manager to lead contract catering across the site, with an 8am–4pm, Monday to Friday pattern.

You will oversee kitchens and service teams, develop seasonal menus with the Senior Chef, and ensure budgets and cost controls meet client expectations.

The ideal candidate has a Level 3 in Catering and Hospitality or equivalent, strong leadership, client relationship skills and excellent communication.

Qualifications

• Must have Right to Work in the UK.
• Understanding of financial management, budgeting and cost control.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to handle varied situations and find practical solutions.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
• Good time-management and organisational abilities.
• Ability to handle confidential information.
• Competence with MS Office tools, especially Excel.

Responsibilities

• Work with the Senior Chef to create seasonal food and drink menus for the site and events.
• Oversee all staffing, including kitchen assistants, chefs and servers, ensuring client needs are met daily.
• Train team members on menus, serving procedures, etiquette, safety standards and regulations.
• Adhere to budgets set by the line manager for food, equipment, staffing and operations.
• Establish relationships with vendors to ensure best prices and correct sourcing.

Skills

Leadership skills

Client relationship management

Budgeting & cost control

Microsoft Excel

Staff training

Communication

Time management

Education

Level 3 in Catering & Hospitality

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

About The Role:

Working Pattern

shift pattern for 8am - 4pm Monday to Friday

As part of your role, your key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• You will be required to work with the Senior Chef to create seasonal food and drink menus for the site and any events for the client and its visitors. Our Café Managers must consider factors such as the site or event’s demographic or theme, menu size, dietary needs, and available cooking equipment
• You will oversee all staff, including kitchen assistants, chefs, and servers, ensuring that the team’s creations meet the client’s needs. You must also ensure that all legal and company requirements are meet daily
• You will be responsible for training their team members on menus, serving procedures, company etiquette, safety standards, and regulations
• Adhere to budgets set by their line manager when planning catering operations, allocating the budget for food, cooking equipment, staffing, and equipment
• Establish relationships with vendors and ensure that food and other supplies are bought from the correct vendor, ensuring the best prices are obtained

What are we looking for?

• Have proven and experience in the management of Contract Catering operations and teams
• Possesses a Level 3 in Catering and Hospitality or equivalent, as well as unit management experience within the contract catering sector
• You should have proven leadership skills, with the ability to lead, mentor, and motivate a team
• Experienced in building relationships with clients and staff, ensuring that the client’s expectations are met every day
• Can work in a fast-paced environment and adapt to changing demands is crucial

The ideal candidate should meet the following criteria:

• Must have the Right to Work in the UK
• Understand financial management, budgeting, and cost control
• Excellent customer service skills are essential
• Can handle varied situations and find practical solutions
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills
• Good time-management and organisational abilities
• Can handle sensitive and confidential information
• Competent with Microsoft Office tools, especially Excel

About The Company:

OCS UK & Ireland is a leading facilities management company with 50,000+ colleagues and a turnover in excess of £2bn. We deliver innovative, award-winning services within facilities management, hard services, cleaning, security and catering.

Our mission is to make people and places the best they can be for our colleagues, customers and the communities we serve. Our commitment to doing business the right way is rooted in our TRUE values -Trust, Respect, Unity, and Empowerment.

Why Work for OCS?

Award-Winning Employer: Ranked 36th on Glassdoor’s Best Companies to Work For 2025 — we value and motivate our people.

Digital Learning: The OCS Academy offers digital courses and resources to help you build skills and grow your career.

Retail Perks With our Hapi app, you can gain access to exclusive discounts, rewards and wellbeing resources.

Professional Growth: 600+ live learners across UK&I — Empowering colleagues with further development and qualifications!

Flexible Pay: Access a portion of earned wages before payday with our Wagestream App! (Contract Specific)

We are an equal opportunities employer and rely on a diverse workforce with a broad range of knowledge, skills, and backgrounds to deliver our goals. We offer an inclusive and welcoming environment and actively encourage applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or age.