Catering Manager

Compass Group UK; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Compass Group UK is seeking a hands-on Catering Manager to lead a busy café in Carlisle, taking ownership of day-to-day operations and delivering consistently excellent customer service.

You’ll manage a small on-site team, control stock and budgets, drive sales, ensure food safety compliance, and foster a positive, collaborative environment that develops people.

Qualifications

• Experience leading catering operations.
• Proven ability to manage budgets, stock, and KPIs.
• Strong organisational and communication skills.
• Level 2 Food Hygiene qualification desirable.

Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of the café and catering operation.
• Lead, coach, and develop a small on-site team.
• Deliver an exceptional customer experience.
• Manage stock, ordering, and supplier relationships.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Budgeting

Food safety

Education

Level 2 Food Hygiene

Job description

Catering Manager - Carlisle Lead a Café. Inspire a Team. Create an Exceptional Customer Experience.

At Compass Group, we know that great hospitality is about more than serving food. It's about creating a welcoming environment, building relationships with customers, and delivering consistently excellent experiences.

We're looking for an enthusiastic and driven Catering Manager to take responsibility for a thriving café operation in the Carlisle area. This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate hospitality professional who enjoys ownership, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and loves developing people.

You will lead a small team, manage the day-to-day operation, and play a key role in ensuring the café delivers outstanding service, quality, and commercial performance.

What You\'ll Be Doing

As Catering Manager, you\'ll be the driving force behind the operation, ensuring every day runs smoothly and efficiently.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing all aspects of the café and catering operation
• Leading, coaching, and developing a small on-site team
• Delivering an exceptional customer experience
• Managing stock, ordering, and supplier relationships
• Controlling budgets, labour costs, and financial performance
• Ensuring full compliance with food safety and health & safety standards
• Maintaining excellent food quality, presentation, and service standards
• Identifying opportunities to improve sales, engagement, and service delivery
• Building a positive and motivating working environment

Who We\'re Looking For

You are a confident and hands-on leader who takes pride in creating successful catering operations.

You'll ideally have:

• Previous experience as a Catering Manager, Café Manager, Catering Supervisor, or similar hospitality leadership role
• Strong people management and team development skills
• Experience managing budgets, stock control, and KPIs
• Excellent organisational and communication abilities
• A passion for food, customer service, and operational excellence
• A proactive mindset with the ability to solve problems and make decisions
• Level 2 Food Hygiene qualification (desirable)

Why Compass Group?

Joining Compass means becoming part of a business that invests in its people and celebrates success.

In return, you\'ll benefit from:

• Excellent career development opportunities
• Ongoing training and support
• A supportive and inclusive team culture
• Access to Compass benefits and wellbeing programmes
• The opportunity to make a genuine impact within your business

Ready for Your Next Challenge?

If you're a hospitality professional looking for the opportunity to lead your own café operation, inspire a team, and build a career with the UK's leading food and support services provider, we'd love to hear from you.