Contract Director - Barnes

Compass Group; City Of London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading hospitality provider is seeking a Contract Director to lead catering at St Paul's School, ensuring operational excellence and culinary innovation. This role involves managing a diverse team, achieving financial targets, and fostering client partnerships within an esteemed educational setting. Ideal candidates will possess strong leadership and financial skills, combined with a passion for food and service.

Benefits

Contributory pension scheme

Career development programs

Healthcare support

Exclusive travel discounts

Grocery discounts

Cinema ticket discounts

Cashback rewards

Wellness classes

27 days' annual leave

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading large teams in hospitality or education.
• Strong financial acumen with substantial budget management experience.
• Exceptional leadership and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team to deliver exceptional food and service experiences.
• Build strong relationships with school leadership.
• Achieve financial targets and ensure commercial success.
• Innovate food concepts and engage pupils through feedback.

Skills

Leadership

Financial management

Communication

Operational excellence

Team development

Job description

St Paul's School for Boys is one of the UK's most renowned independent schools, celebrated for its academic excellence, rich heritage, and commitment to developing well‑rounded young men who contribute meaningfully to society. Set on a striking campus in the heart of London, the school blends centuries of tradition with a progressive and ambitious educational approach that prepares pupils for the modern world.

Food and hospitality are an integral part of daily life at St Paul's—from providing fresh, nutritious meals for over 1,500 pupils and staff, to delivering hospitality experiences that enhance the school's reputation and community culture. We are now seeking an outstanding Contract Director to lead this prestigious contract, driving operational excellence, culinary innovation, and a service experience that reflects the school's distinguished identity.

Why Join Us

• Contributory pension scheme
• Career development through structured pathways and MyLearning programmes
• Digital GP access and healthcare support for you and your immediate family
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and more
• Grocery discounts with major retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets
• Cashback rewards across a wide range of brands
• Free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
• Share your discounts with family and friends
• 27 days' annual leave + bank holidays

The Role

This is a high‑profile leadership position with responsibility for shaping and delivering the full catering and hospitality vision at one of the country's most esteemed schools for boys. You'll lead a diverse team of over 40 colleagues to deliver best‑in‑class service across breakfast, lunch, supper, grab‑and‑go, match teas, packed meals, and an extensive hospitality programme including formal dinners, parent events, celebrations, and academic gatherings.

Key responsibilities include

Strategic Leadership

Inspire and develop a team of managers to deliver an exceptional food and service experience aligned to St Paul's School's culture and values.

Client Partnership

Build a strong strategic relationship with school leadership, acting as a trusted partner in enhancing the food and hospitality offer for over 1,500 pupils and staff.

Commercial Excellence

Achieve financial targets, identify opportunities for efficiency and growth, and ensure both operational and commercial success across the contract.

Innovation & Engagement

Collaborate with culinary and marketing teams to design nutritious, engaging, and age‑appropriate food concepts. Drive pupil voice and engagement through tasting sessions, focus groups, and student committees.

People Development

Recruit, mentor, and develop talented individuals, building a robust succession plan and embedding a culture of pride, professionalism, and continuous improvement.

Operational Excellence

Maintain exceptional standards of food quality, service, compliance, health & safety, and environmental practice, ensuring every service reflects the school's high expectations.

About You

• You will bring proven experience leading large, complex teams across multiple sites or within a high‑profile single site, ideally within education, hospitality, or an equivalent environment.
• Commercially strong and operationally sharp, you will demonstrate a strategic mindset with the ability to balance long‑term vision and daily operational delivery.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing substantial budgets.
• A genuine passion for food, service, and creating memorable experiences.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Resilience, adaptability, and the ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, community‑focused setting.

A Unique Opportunity

This is a rare chance to lead a flagship contract within one of the UK's most respected educational environments. By combining your commercial expertise with St Paul's School's mission, heritage, and forward‑thinking vision, you will play a central role in shaping a food and hospitality experience that supports the wellbeing, achievement, and daily life of every pupil.

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.

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!