Catering Manager

Harri; Greater London; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Birthday off

Enhanced parental leave

Contributory pension

Life assurance

Employee Assistance Programme

CODE Hospitality membership

Foodie Socials

Career progression

Summer Awards Party

Christmas Party

Mon-Fri work pattern

40 hours per week

Job summary

Houston & Hawkes is seeking a Catering Manager for a Central London contract. Lead a three-person team and manage day-to-day catering from breakfast to lunch and hospitality, ensuring top-quality food and service.

You will develop client relationships, uphold food safety standards, and work closely with the wider Houston & Hawkes team to maintain exceptional operations. This role is Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week, based in Central London.

Qualifications

• Contract catering management experience is essential.
• Confident, engaging people leader who develops a small, high-performing team.
• Excellent client relationship skills to build trusted partnerships.
• Strong operational and organisational skills for retail food service and hospitality.
• Commercially aware, customer-focused and passionate about great food and service.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of day-to-day catering operation with high standards of food, service and presentation.
• Lead, motivate and support a team of three, creating a positive working environment.
• Oversee hot and cold breakfast and lunch services with consistent quality.
• Coordinate hospitality service, ensuring orders are delivered professionally and to a high standard.
• Build a trusted relationship with the client and respond proactively to needs.
• Remain visible and customer-facing, delivering a warm, professional experience.
• Manage the operation with strong commercial awareness and controls.
• Plan effectively for service and changing business needs.
• Collaborate with the Houston & Hawkes team to maintain standards.
• Champion high standards of food safety, allergen awareness, health & safety.

Skills

People leadership

Client relationship management

Operational planning

Food safety awareness

Job description

CATERING MANAGER

Central London | £42,000 per annum | Monday to Friday | 40 hours per week

Great food. Brilliant people. Exceptional service.

Houston & Hawkes is looking for an experienced Catering Manager to join our team at an exciting new contract in Central London.

We're looking for someone with personality, energy and a real eye for detail - an experienced contract catering manager who combines strong people leadership with excellent client relationship skills and a genuine passion for food and service. You'll lead a close-knit team of three, taking ownership of the day-to-day operation and ensuring consistently high standards from breakfast through to lunch and hospitality.

THE ROLE

• Take ownership of the day-to-day catering operation, ensuring consistently high standards of food, service and presentation.
• Lead, motivate and support a team of three, creating a positive, professional and engaged working environment.
• Oversee the delivery of hot and cold breakfast and lunch services, ensuring quality and consistency throughout the day.
• Coordinate a busy hospitality service, ensuring orders are delivered accurately, professionally and to a high standard.
• Build a trusted and positive relationship with the client, responding confidently and proactively to their needs.
• Remain visible and customer-facing, creating a warm and professional experience for everyone using the service.
• Manage the operation with strong commercial awareness, maintaining effective controls and organised day-to-day processes.
• Plan effectively for service, hospitality requirements and changing business needs.
• Work closely with the wider Houston & Hawkes team to maintain standards and continually develop the operation.
• Champion the highest standards of food safety, allergen awareness, health & safety and operational compliance.

ABOUT YOU

• Previous management experience within contract catering is essential.
• A confident and engaging people leader who enjoys developing a small, high-performing team.
• Excellent client relationship skills, with the credibility and communication style to build a trusted partnership.
• Strong operational and organisational skills, with the ability to manage retail food service and hospitality requirements confidently.
• Commercially aware, customer-focused and passionate about delivering great food and exceptional service.

WHY JOIN HOUSTON & HAWKES?

You'll be joining an award-winning independent business that genuinely invests in its people, celebrates success and creates opportunities to develop.

• Your birthday off every year
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Contributory pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• CODE Hospitality membership, giving you access to one of the UK's leading hospitality communities
• Foodie Socials - bringing our teams together to share new concepts, seasonal food and drink ideas and the creativity happening across Houston & Hawkes
• Ongoing learning, development and genuine opportunities for career progression
• Our Summer Awards Party - celebrating the people, achievements and successes across Houston & Hawkes
• An unforgettable Christmas Party at one of London's outstanding venues - bringing the whole business together to celebrate the year in true Houston & Hawkes style
• Monday to Friday working pattern
• 40 hours per week

ABOUT HOUSTON & HAWKES

Houston & Hawkes is an award-winning independent caterer creating vibrant, creative and exceptional food and hospitality experiences across some of the UK's most prestigious client sites.

We're a Certified B Corp, recipient of the King's Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development 2026 and proud to be ranked No. 14 in The Caterer's Best Places to Work in Hospitality.

If you're an experienced contract catering manager with strong client skills, a passion for great food and the personality to lead an exceptional operation, we would love to hear from you.