Deputy General Manager

Compass Group PLC; Greater London; On-site; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading hospitality provider in Greater London is seeking a proactive Deputy General Manager to support the operations at the Design Museum. This role involves ensuring high service standards, overseeing budgets, and leading teams across multiple venues. The ideal candidate will have experience in similar roles within busy environments and a passion for food and exceptional visitor experiences. Comprehensive benefits are offered, including annual leave, meals, and opportunities for training and development.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Free staff meals

Access to company perks

On-site discounts

Training and mentoring support

Qualifications

• Experience as an Assistant Manager, Operations Manager, or Deputy General Manager within hospitality.
• Proven ability to support the running of busy environments with high footfall.
• Strong understanding of budgets, cost control, and labour management.

Responsibilities

• Support the General Manager in leading all catering and hospitality operations.
• Ensure consistent delivery of high service standards.
• Build strong working relationships with venue stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership skills

Financial awareness

Communication abilities

Team motivation

Customer service focus

Job description

We're seeking a proactive and people-focused Deputy General Manager to support the catering and hospitality operations at the Design Museum, based in Kensington. This is an outstanding opportunity to help shape visitor experiences within a world-class institution that welcomes guests from across the globe. As Deputy General Manager, you will work closely with the General Manager to ensure the smooth running of our busy café and on-site restaurant, as well as delivering exceptional service standards on the conference & events that take place across the venue. You will also be supporting continual improvement across the operation.

Responsibilities

• Support the General Manager in leading all catering and hospitality operations across café, restaurant, conference, and event spaces.
• Ensure consistent delivery of high service standards through active floor leadership and team engagement.
• Build strong working relationships with venue stakeholders, assisting in responding to feedback and ensuring client satisfaction.
• Help oversee budgets, stock controls, and staffing levels to meet commercial targets and drive operational efficiency.
• Ensure full compliance with Health & Safety and Food Safety regulations, supporting training and policy implementation.
• Lead, motivate, and support teams across multiple outlets, assisting with training, scheduling, and performance management.
• Contribute to strategic initiatives and operational improvements, aligning day‑to‑day delivery with organisational goals.

Qualifications

• Experience as an Assistant Manager, Operations Manager, or Deputy General Manager within hospitality, ideally in visitor attractions or multi‑outlet venues.
• Proven ability to support the running of busy environments with high footfall and varied service styles.
• Strong financial awareness and understanding of budgets, cost control, and labour management.
• Excellent leadership skills, with experience motivating teams and supporting training and development.
• Confident communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• A passion for food, service, and delivering memorable visitor experiences.
• Ability to adapt in a fast‑paced environment, supporting both daily operations and longer‑term development projects.

Restaurant Associates is a leading premium hospitality provider with an ethos drawn from our history of fine and high‑quality dining in London and New York. Within our venues team, we provide catering and hospitality services to some of the most iconic visitor attractions and destinations in the UK including the Imperial War Museum London, Glyndebourne Opera House, Knebworth House, Design Museum, Whipsnade Zoo and many more. We operate bespoke cafés and restaurants, as well as delivering private events ranging from small meetings to large‑scale ground events of up to 1000 people. You can find a full list of our venues on our website.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive, diverse, fun, and dynamic place to work with opportunities to collaborate with a wide range of teams and a commitment to putting our people first. Restaurant Associates is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds. As a business, we are committed to sustainability‑led practices and are proud to have achieved 3 stars with the Sustainable Restaurant Association's Food Made Good Programme.

Benefits

• A collaborative and inclusive culture, where your ideas are valued, and creativity is encouraged.
• 25 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays and national holiday days).
• Free staff meals whilst at work.
• Access to Compass Group company perks & benefits.
• Perks for Works discounts and promotions.
• Access to training, mentoring and development, with support from our wider Restaurant Associates and Compass Group UK networks.
• On‑site F&B discounts.
• No shortage of delicious food.