Catering Operations Lead: Scale & Deliver Events

Kirklees Metropolitan Council; Harrogate; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounts

Tech salary sacrifice

Financial wellbeing support

Health Assured & EAP

Job summary

North Yorkshire Council’s Harrogate Convention Centre is seeking a Catering Operations Manager to lead the catering operation, directing four Catering Event Managers and up to 75 casual staff, translating client requirements into practical, resourced plans while maintaining high service standards, safety and financial controls.

You will drive growth and scalability, develop people and processes, and ensure delivery across conferences, retail catering, galas and high‑profile events.

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing busy catering or hospitality operations.
• Experience leading managers and operational teams.
• Strong planning and organisational skills in fast-paced environments.
• Experience managing budgets, costs and performance.
• Strong people-management, coaching and performance-management skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Experience improving processes, systems and service delivery.
• Level 2 Food Safety and Health & Safety qualifications, or equivalent.
• Personal Licence holder.

Responsibilities

• Lead catering operations across a diverse events programme, delivering successful events that meet client, quality and financial expectations.
• Coaching and developing Catering Event Managers and operational teams to perform at their best.
• Building strong client relationships and managing operational changes and challenges effectively.
• Maintaining a visible presence at events to ensure high food, presentation and service standards.
• Supporting business growth by developing scalable people, processes and operational systems.
• Driving improvements to procedures, workforce planning and training to enhance productivity and service quality.
• Planning staffing requirements to ensure events are appropriately resourced and delivered efficiently.
• Monitoring budgets and performance to improve productivity, control costs and support commercial sustainability.
• Overseeing stock management, payments, timesheets and supplier invoice processing.
• Promoting a strong culture of health, safety and food safety across all events.
• Supporting the development and implementation of risk assessments, safe systems of work and operating procedures.

Skills

People management

Budget management

Planning

Communication

Stakeholder management

IT skills

Education

Level 2 Food Safety

Health & Safety qualification

Personal Licence holder

Level 3 Food Safety

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

North Yorkshire Council’s Harrogate Convention Centre is seeking a Catering Operations Manager to lead the catering operation, directing four Catering Event Managers and up to 75 casual staff, translating client requirements into practical, resourced plans while maintaining high service standards, safety and financial controls.

You will drive growth and scalability, develop people and processes, and ensure delivery across conferences, retail catering, galas and high‑profile events.