Contract Manager (Catering)

Compass Group UK & Ireland; City Of London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading catering company in London is seeking a Contract Manager to oversee its fast-paced campus operation. The chosen candidate will lead a talented team, manage budgets, and drive client satisfaction. Ideal candidates will have proven experience in senior management roles within complex operational environments and excel in team leadership and client relationship management. This is a unique opportunity to impact service delivery and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Proven senior management experience within a large, multi-site or complex operational environment.
• Demonstrated success in leading and inspiring teams to deliver against financial and performance targets.
• Experience in retail and hospitality.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to manage budgets and costs effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead performance and growth across all outlets, developing long-term plans.
• Manage budgets and costs, ensuring alignment with Compass standards.
• Monitor performance through data analysis and customer feedback.
• Champion health, safety, and compliance across the operation.

Skills

Senior management experience

Team leadership

Client relationship management

Commercial acumen

Communication skills

Job description

Job Introduction

Contract Manager

• London
• Competitive Salary
• 5 days over 7, role requires flexibility in working hours in line with business needs

Join Compass Group UK & Ireland, as our next Contract Manager. You'll oversee a large, fast-paced campus operation with 12 outlets, leading a talented management team to deliver exceptional service, strong financial performance, and outstanding client satisfaction.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced operational leader who thrives in a commercial, customer-focused environment and enjoys building strong relationships while driving performance and growth.

About the Role

As Contract Manager, you'll be responsible for the strategic and day-to-day delivery of services across the campus. You'll ensure all outlets meet contractual, financial, and service standards while identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency, quality, and profitability.

You will:

• Lead performance and growth across all outlets, developing long-term plans that strengthen client partnerships and expand service offerings.
• Partner with sales and marketing teams to create compelling, commercially sound proposals and ensure operational excellence in every service agreement.
• Monitor performance through data analysis, customer feedback, and financial reporting, taking proactive steps to improve results.
• Manage budgets and costs, ensuring food, labour, and consumable costs are effectively controlled and aligned with Compass standards.
• Champion health, safety, and compliance, embedding a strong safety-first culture and ensuring adherence to HACCP, risk assessments, and other policies.
• Lead and develop people, coaching and motivating your management team to reach their full potential while fostering collaboration and accountability across the campus.
• Promote innovation and service improvement, implementing initiatives that enhance customer experience and strengthen Compass' position as a trusted catering partner.

About You

You'll be an experienced operational leader with a strong commercial mindset and a passion for delivering excellence. You understand how to balance client relationships, financial performance, and team leadership to achieve outstanding results.

Essential skills and experience

• Proven senior management experience within a large, multi-site or complex operational environment.
• Demonstrated success in leading and inspiring teams to deliver against financial and performance targets.
• Experience in retail and hospitality
• Experience managing client relationships at a senior level and developing long-term partnerships.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to manage budgets, costs, and service delivery effectively.
• Experience implementing change and improvement programmes that deliver measurable benefits.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.

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!