Catering Operations Lead – Patient-Centric Service

LLOYD'S REGISTER INTERNATIONAL; Basildon; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

St Luke’s Hospice in Basildon and Thurrock is seeking a Catering Operations & Service Manager to lead the catering service with hands-on, practical leadership across two sites. You will balance food safety, people management and financial awareness to ensure safe, reliable patient catering and efficient daily operations.

The role requires collaboration with clinical teams, Facilities, Finance and volunteers, embedding SEASONS processes and using EPOS and data systems to drive improvements in

Qualifications

• Relevant qualification and/or substantial equivalent experience in catering, hospitality or food-service management.
• Experience in managing catering or food-service operations.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, allergens, hygiene and HACCP.
• Good organisational skills and ability to coordinate a busy service.
• Financial awareness including food cost, waste, stock and labour.
• Ability to use data reports to support decisions and service improvement.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day operational leadership for catering services across both sites.
• Coordinate delivery across food production, transport, service and retail activity.
• Maintain a visible presence and support the team in resolving issues.
• Ensure patient catering remains the top operational priority and escalate risks.
• Ensure dietary, allergen and texture-modified requirements are implemented correctly.
• Collaborate with Nursing, Dietetics and clinical teams on nutrition and hydration needs.
• Maintain patient menus, portion standards and service records.
• Support flexibility for patient preferences within food-safety parameters.
• Promote dignity, sensitivity and patient-first care within the Hospice.

Skills

Catering management

Food safety

HACCP

Communication

Financial awareness

EPOS systems

IT literacy

Driving licence

Education

Catering/Hospitality management qualification

Tools

EPOS

Stock systems

Ordering systems

Job description

St Luke’s Hospice in Basildon and Thurrock is seeking a Catering Operations & Service Manager to lead the catering service with hands-on, practical leadership across two sites. You will balance food safety, people management and financial awareness to ensure safe, reliable patient catering and efficient daily operations.

The role requires collaboration with clinical teams, Facilities, Finance and volunteers, embedding SEASONS processes and using EPOS and data systems to drive improvements in