Catering Operations Manager

Compass Group; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent catering company in the United Kingdom is seeking an Operations Manager to oversee a portfolio of catering contracts. This role involves leading diverse teams, ensuring operational excellence, and driving financial performance. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in contract catering, excellent leadership skills, and a passion for food and service excellence. This opportunity offers competitive salary and the chance to make a significant impact in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in a mid-level, multi-site operations role in contract catering or hospitality.
• Strong commercial focus with managing P&L performance.
• Confident leader with effective communication and team-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage day-to-day operations across catering sites.
• Support and mentor a team of Unit Managers.
• Develop high-performing teams and foster a culture of collaboration.

Skills

Team leadership

Budget management

Client relationship management

Communication skills

Data analysis

Job description

Operations Manager

Up to £50,000 per annum

Are you a driven and experienced operations professional with a passion for food, service excellence, and people leadership? We're seeking an Operations Manager to join our dynamic team and take the lead across a portfolio of catering contracts.

As Operations Manager, you will oversee a diverse range of catering contracts, ensuring operational excellence, financial performance, and client satisfaction. You'll lead a team of site managers, inspire frontline teams, and build trusted relationships with our clients.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day operations across multiple catering sites, ensuring consistent service excellence.
• Support and mentor a team of Unit Managers to deliver high standards across all locations.
• Develop and inspire high-performing teams, fostering a culture of accountability, growth, and collaboration.
• Oversee recruitment across your portfolio, ensuring the right people are hired at the right time.
• Build and maintain strong, proactive client relationships across your geographic area, acting as a trusted partner.
• Ensure full contract compliance while maximising profitability, enhancing client satisfaction, and driving retention.
• Manage financial performance including budget planning, forecasting, and effective cost control measures.
• Promote exceptional food quality, uphold safety standards, and drive continuous innovation in service delivery.
• Lead the mobilisation of new contracts and contribute to tender processes and bid development as required.
• Champion best practices across HR, health & safety, compliance, and sustainability throughout all operations.

About You

• Demonstrated experience in a mid-level, multi-site operations role within the contract catering or wider hospitality sector.
• Strong commercial focus with a solid track record in managing P&L performance across multiple contracts.
• Confident and effective leader with outstanding communication and team-building skills.
• Skilled in managing challenging conversations with professionalism, empathy, and clarity.
• Analytical and commercially astute, using data insights to make informed, strategic decisions.
• Flexible and mobile, with the ability to travel frequently.
• A genuine passion for food, people development, and delivering a best-in-class customer experience.

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!