Catering Manager & Office Support

Ottolenghi; Greater London; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 32,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave

Staff meals on shift

HSF healthcare plan

Refer a Friend £500

Learning & Development

Inclusive culture

Enhanced Parental Pay

Birthday treat

Workshops and demos

Collaborative environment

Job summary

Ottolenghi Islington is looking for a talented Catering Manager & Office Support to help grow our catering business and build strong, lasting client relationships. You’ll generate new business and support delivery of larger events, alongside day-to-day office administration.

Join a vibrant team known for energy, great food, and a warm guest experience. The role combines sales development with operational support across events, menus, and supplier coordination, with weekday and occasional

Qualifications

• Experience in catering sales, hospitality, events or business development is desirable.
• Confident, proactive and commercially driven approach.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organisation and attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Confidence speaking with clients, visiting venues and representing the business professionally.
• A genuine passion for food, hospitality and delivering exceptional customer experiences.
• Flexibility to support occasional evenings, weekends and key trading periods.

Responsibilities

• Drive catering sales by generating new business through cold calling and networking.
• Develop strong, long-term client relationships.
• Manage catering enquiries from initial inquiry to delivery.
• Visit venues, meet clients and support planning of larger events.
• Liaise with suppliers and FOH/BOH teams for smooth event planning and execution.
• Maintain knowledge of our catering offering, including dietary requirements.
• Support catering administration, including invoices and client records.
• Keep menus and labels across Deliveroo, Slerp and Catersoft.
• Support site administration, including cash-up and expenses.
• Participate in weekly sales and catering meetings with the management team.

Skills

Catering sales

Commercially driven

Communication skills

Organisation

Client engagement

Customer experience

Evening/weekend flexibility

Job description

At Ottolenghi, we’re known for vibrant food, busy delis, and restaurants full of energy—but what really matters is our people. We create environments where teams feel supported, take pride in what they do, and deliver a genuinely warm experience to every guest.

Ottolenghi Islington is where it all began for our restaurant and bar offering, rooted in the creative, independent spirit of Upper Street. One of our most storied and beloved sites, it has been at the heart of the Ottolenghi story for many years, and we are now looking for a talented Catering Manager & Office Support to help grow our catering business and build strong, lasting relationships with clients. You’ll be responsible for generating new business, developing existing client relationships and supporting the delivery of larger catering events, alongside day-to-day office administration.

What you’ll do

• Drive catering sales by actively generating new business, including cold calling, networking and building relationships with local businesses, venues and repeat clients.
• Identify new sales opportunities and develop strong, long-term client relationships.
• Manage catering enquiries and support events from initial enquiry through to delivery.
• Visit venues, meet clients and support the planning and delivery of larger catering events.
• Liaise with suppliers, FOH and BOH teams to ensure smooth event planning and execution.
• Maintain excellent knowledge of our food, drink and catering offering, including dietary and allergen requirements.
• Support catering administration, including invoices, payments, dietaries and client records.
• Maintain menus and labels across Deliveroo, Slerp and Catersoft.
• Support site administration, including cash-up procedures, banking and expenses.
• Take part in weekly sales and catering meetings and work closely with the wider management team.

What we’re looking for

• Experience in catering sales, hospitality, events or business development is desirable.
• A confident, proactive and commercially driven approach, with the ability to generate new business.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organisation and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Confidence speaking with clients, visiting venues and representing the business professionally.
• A genuine passion for food, hospitality and delivering exceptional customer experiences.
• Flexibility and willingness to support occasional evenings, weekends and key trading periods when required.

Working hours

• 24-30 hours per week, with flexibility to increase hours during busy periods such as pre-Christmas and other key trading periods.
• Occasional evenings and weekends may be required for larger events and busy seasonal periods.

What’s in it for you?

• 28 days annual leave per year, inclusive of bank holidays
• Delicious Ottolenghi staff meals on shift and generous staff discount
• Health and well-being support through our HSF healthcare plan (covering dental, optical, physiotherapy, and more), plus a 24/7 GP helpline and access to Perkbox discounts
• Refer a Friend Bonus: £500 for each successful referral
• Learning & Development opportunities including management coaching, WSET wine training, Ottolenghi Chef’s Academy workshops, and access to external courses
• A warm, inclusive working culture where individuality, growth, and creativity are celebrated
• Enhanced Parental Pay after two years’ service
• A special birthday treat to celebrate your day
• Exclusive workshops and demos, including cooking, food, wine, and cocktail sessions in the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen
• A collaborative and creative environment where your ideas are valued