Catering Operations Manager

Chartwells; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading catering service provider in Sunderland is seeking a talented individual to oversee day-to-day catering operations, manage budgets, and lead teams. The ideal candidate will have experience in contract catering, a focus on customer service, and a passion for developing sustainable initiatives. This role offers competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career growth.

Benefits

Contributory pension scheme

Career development programs

Healthcare benefits

Travel discounts

Food shopping discounts

Cinema ticket discounts

Cash rewards

Wellness classes

Qualifications

• Experience in a commercial contract catering setting.
• Ability to manage budgets and achieve financial targets.
• Strong leadership skills to manage catering teams effectively.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day catering operations.
• Develop and enhance the catering offer to meet trends.
• Manage budgets and prepare monthly P&L reports.

Skills

Catering management

Budget management

Team leadership

Customer service

Strategic development

Job description

We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
• Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
• Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
• Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
• Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
• You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families

More about the role:

Operational Leadership

• Oversee day-to-day catering operations across multiple outlets.
• Ensure consistent high standards in food quality, presentation, and customer service.
• Lead and manage catering teams including chefs, supervisors, and front‑of‑house staff.

Strategic Development

• Develop and enhance the catering offer to meet customer expectations and market trends.
• Implement sustainability initiatives and align with university values and strategies.
• Drive innovation in menus, service models, and customer engagement.

Financial & Business Management

• Manage budgets, control costs, and achieve financial targets (e.g., gross profit margins, wage‑to‑turnover ratios).
• Prepare business plans and monthly P&L reports.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, health & safety, and other relevant legislation.

Customer Experience

• Champion a customer‑centric culture.
• Use feedback and data to improve services.
• Support university events, VIP functions, and large‑scale hospitality.

Staff Development

• Recruit, train, and develop catering staff.
• Conduct performance reviews and implement training plans.
• Foster teamwork, motivation, and high performance.

Who you are:

Your key responsibilities will include:

• To be responsible for the overall efficient and effective management of the contract to ensure great quality, consistent food and beverage services across all areas
• To maintain positive client relationships ensuring
• To ensure the smooth planning of the contract and resources to deliver a first‑class service to our clients and customers
• To be responsible for the management, recruitment, development and training of team members
• To ensure the contract is fully compliant with company policies and procedures
• To deliver on the agreed financial budget and run commercially in line with net income and cost targets
• Have experience in a commercial contract catering setting

About Us

As part of Compass you'll help to feed people, fuel progress and forge connections in around 6,000 venues. Join us to grow your career with the industry leader, and get competitive pay, great perks and unrivalled opportunities for learning and development, at one of the UK's biggest businesses.

Job Reference: com/2111/90573001/52760910/R/SU #Universities & Colleges

Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!