Catering Business Manager

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Bournemouth is seeking a Catering Business Manager to lead its food production team. This role involves developing and selling locally produced meals to external organizations while ensuring compliance with food safety standards. The successful candidate will achieve SALSA accreditation for the Central Production Kitchen and manage logistics for meal distribution. Experience in catering management and familiarity with procurement software is essential. This is an exciting opportunity to influence healthy eating initiatives in the region.

Benefits

Investment in staff development

Strong community support networks

Qualifications

• Experience in achieving food safety accreditation.
• Strong understanding of food production requirements.
• Ability to manage customer relationships effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead the food production team ensuring compliance with safety standards.
• Develop external business and partnerships for meal distribution.
• Oversee the achievement of SALSA accreditation and supplier status.

Skills

Food safety compliance

Business development

Team leadership

Procurement management

Software proficiency (Datasym's MenuMark)

Education

Experience in catering or food management

Tools

Datasym's MenuMark

Job description

Come and join UHD at an exciting time as we complete our transformation journey and develop our new central production unit into a local supplier of prepared meals.

Our new Central Production Kitchen opened in 2024 produce cook freeze meals for our hospitals using local and organic products where possible.

We are looking for a Catering Business Manager to lead our food production team and develop our products and to sell our locally produced food into external organisations.

We produce a full range of meals, including our own dysphagic meals suitable for IDDSI levels 4, 5 and 6. Our range is currently based on the requirements of the UHD menu, but we have a wider range of dishes developed and ready to be produced.

The Catering Business Manager will be required to achieve and maintain a SALSA accreditation for the Central Production Kitchen, and achieve approved supplier statues with the local Environmental Health department. We have a quality team within Facilities to support with the accreditations and providing assurance on food safety.

Interview date

09th February 2026

The Catering Business Manager will lead the production department within catering, ensuring it is compliant with food safety requirements and meets the need of both UHD and our external customers. The CPK Manager, who is responsible for the day‑to‑day production in the kitchen, is line managed by the Catering Business Manager.

The main focus for the role will be development of our external business, finding and working with customers who want locally produced prepared meals. This will include ensuring that not only is our product range appropriate, but also on freezer capacity and transport logistics.

We take food safety seriously, and all of our sites, including the Central Production Kitchen, hold a 5-star rating. We are looking to improve on this and achieve approved supplier status to enable us to supplier external customers and to achieve SALSA accreditation. This role will be responsible for achieving both.

We use Datasym's MenuMark software for our procurement, production, labelling, patient meal ordering and retail requirements. The post holder will be expected to work with this software to ensure our labelling, including allergens, is correct and for costing and pricing of our products.

UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

UHD has active networks including Women’s, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.

AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.

Contact details

Name: Philip Watson
Job title: Facilities Directorate Manager
Email address: [e-mail]
Telephone number: 0300 019 4012