Catering Account Manager

Vertas; England; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Vertas Group is seeking an experienced Catering Account Manager to oversee the delivery of catering services across a portfolio of sites, ensuring exceptional service, client satisfaction and commercial success.

You will manage customer relationships, support site teams, drive financial performance and identify opportunities to retain and grow business, with leadership responsibilities and travel between sites.

Qualifications

• Experience in catering operations and account management.
• Experience managing multiple sites in catering or education/facilities.
• Strong leadership and team development skills.
• Commercial awareness with budget management experience.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel between sites.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with customers and stakeholders.
• Manage contracts and support tender submissions to retain and win business.
• Ensure high quality catering services across multiple locations.
• Drive service performance, customer satisfaction and continuous improvement.
• Manage operational budgets and achieve financial targets.
• Lead, coach and develop catering teams.
• Support recruitment, retention, training and succession planning.
• Conduct regular site visits, audits and performance reviews.
• Ensure compliance with food safety and health & safety standards.
• Identify opportunities to improve services and grow accounts.
• Manage supplier and contractor relationships.
• Deputise for the Senior Account Manager when required.

Skills

Leadership

Commercial awareness

Communication skills

Customer focus

Relationship building

Multi-site management

Education

Catering / hospitality / business qualification

Job description

Catering Account Manager

Are you an experienced catering professional with a passion for leadership, customer relationships and delivering exceptional service? Do you thrive in a fast paced environment where no two days are the same? If so, Vertas would love to hear from you.

Who are Vertas?

Vertas is one of the leading facilities management providers in Great Britain, delivering high quality services across catering, cleaning, property services, transport, environmental management and recruitment. With over 5,000 colleagues nationwide, we are committed to putting our customers and people at the heart of everything we do.

Why Join Vertas?

• Lead and influence catering operations across multiple sites
• Build long term partnerships with schools, academies and customers
• Work for a growing organisation with genuine career development opportunities
• Play a key role in business growth and service innovation
• Join a supportive and experienced leadership team

About the Role

As a Catering Account Manager, you will oversee the delivery of catering services across a portfolio of sites, ensuring operational excellence, customer satisfaction and commercial success. You will be responsible for managing customer relationships, supporting site teams, driving financial performance and identifying opportunities to retain and grow business.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Catering Manager, Area Manager, Regional Manager or Contract Catering Manager looking to take the next step in their career.

Your Responsibilities Will Include

• Building and maintaining strong relationships with customers and key stakeholders
• Managing contracts and supporting tender submissions to retain and win business
• Ensuring high quality catering services are delivered across multiple locations
• Driving service performance, customer satisfaction and continuous improvement
• Managing operational budgets and achieving financial targets
• Leading, coaching and developing catering teams
• Supporting recruitment, retention, training and succession planning
• Conducting regular site visits, audits and performance reviews
• Ensuring compliance with food safety, health and safety and company standards
• Working with customers to identify new service opportunities and improvements
• Managing supplier and contractor relationships
• Deputising for the Senior Account Manager when required

What We're Looking For

• Experience in catering operations, area management, contract management or account management
• Experience managing multiple sites within catering, hospitality, education or facilities management
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing and developing teams
• Commercial awareness and experience managing budgets and financial performance
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills
• A customer focused approach with the ability to influence stakeholders
• Knowledge of food safety, health and safety and operational compliance
• Experience identifying opportunities to improve services and grow accounts
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise effectively
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel between sites

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

• Relevant catering, hospitality or business qualification
• Multi site management experience
• Experience working within education catering or contract catering environments
• Strong negotiation and commercial management skills
• Experience using operational and performance management systems

What Success Looks Like

• High levels of customer satisfaction and contract retention
• Consistent service quality across your portfolio
• Strong team engagement and colleague development
• Achievement of financial and operational targets
• Identification and delivery of business growth opportunities

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees to share this commitment.

Offers of employment are subject to appropriate pre employment checks, including Right to Work checks, satisfactory references, verification of qualifications and professional registrations where applicable, occupational health clearance where applicable, and assessment of suitability to work with children.

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Applicants are required to declare any cautions and convictions that are not protected under current filtering rules.