Commercial Team Leader

The East Kent Colleges Group; Canterbury; On-site; GBP 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent educational institution in Canterbury is seeking a motivated Commercial Team Leader to oversee operations in its busy college refectory. The role involves leading the catering team to ensure exceptional service, managing food preparation and stock efficiently, and ensuring compliance with food safety regulations. Ideal candidates will have a strong catering background and leadership experience, with a focus on maintaining high standards in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits

Annual Leave aligned with holidays

Learning and Development Opportunities

Exclusive Discounts & Perks

Flexible Personal Leave

Wellbeing and Health Support

Competitive Pension Scheme

Qualifications

• Proven experience in catering, hospitality, or a similar high-volume foodservice environment.
• Strong people management and team-leadership abilities.
• Financially astute with an understanding of cost control and menu margins.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize tasks.
• Sound knowledge of HACCP principles and food safety regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate the catering team to deliver excellent service.
• Assist in planning, preparation, and service of food in a high-volume setting.
• Manage stock, ordering, and waste for financial performance.
• Ensure high cleanliness and food safety standards.
• Support menu planning and accurate costings.

Skills

Catering experience

People management

Financial awareness

Organizational skills

HACCP knowledge

Digital literacy

Customer focus

Communication skills

Job description

Lead the team that keeps the campus fuelled - join us as a Commercial Team Leader, We are seeking a motivated and commercially minded Commercial Team Leader to support the smooth running of our busy college refectory at EKC Canterbury College. If you thrive in a fast-paced catering environment and enjoy supporting others to deliver great service, this could be the ideal opportunity.

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate the catering team to deliver excellent service and a positive dining experience.
• Assist with the planning, preparation, and service of food in a high-volume setting.
• Manage stock, ordering, and waste to support strong financial performance.
• Ensure high standards of cleanliness, food safety, and full HACCP compliance.
• Support menu planning and carry out accurate menu costings.
• Provide training, guidance, and day-to-day support to ensure the team meets service targets.
• Maintain accurate records, including temperature logs and health & safety checks.
• Use basic computer systems (email, POS, stock management, spreadsheets) for administrative tasks.
• Work collaboratively with management to achieve commercial objectives and drive continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in catering, hospitality, or a similar high-volume foodservice environment.
• Strong people management and team-leadership abilities.
• Financially astute, with an understanding of cost control, menu margins, and commercial performance.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritise tasks effectively.
• Sound knowledge of HACCP principles and food safety regulations.
• Confident using basic computer applications and digital systems.
• Positive, flexible, and customer-focused approach.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills both verbal and written.
• Experience of leading a team and handling financial transactions including use of a cash register.

Outstanding Ofsted Provider East Kent Colleges Group is an Ofsted Outstanding rated provider. It is proud to be the first General Further Education college organisation in the country to have received the Outstanding grade against each of the strands under the new Ofsted inspection framework. An inclusive provider, our colleagues place our students and the communities we serve at the heart of everything they do across EKC Group and this is illustrated in our Strong skills grading by Ofsted.

Commitment to Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and we ensure that all staff are aware of their responsibilities for upholding these principles. As a designated establishment, we are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore have an obligation to carry out checks to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children and vulnerable adults. These checks include conviction/caution self-declaration, Enhanced DBS check and obtaining sufficient referencing.

Salary (inc holiday pay): £27,890

Benefits

• Annual Leave aligned with the holidays
• Learning and Development Opportunities – 3–4 annual paid group development days, bespoke programmes e.g. Aspiring Leaders Development Programme and strong internal progression – 1 in 3 roles are filled internally
• Exclusive Discounts & Perks – inc. restaurant, grocery, retail and holidays discounts as well as car leasing and tech purchasing schemes, on-site nursery (if based at relevant site)
• Flexible Personal Leave – Time off for your child's first day at nursery or school, moving homes and for interviews
• Wellbeing and Health Support – Generous sick pay, counselling services, discounted gym membership at Canterbury College
• Culture and Recognition – Being part of Community Days, an annual Staff Celebration Day, and an eco-friendly organisation dedicated to reaching net‑zero by 2030
• Competitive Pension Scheme – 18% employer contribution