Director of Catering

Holroyd Howe; Greater London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days holiday (including bankhols)

Volunteering days (3)

Grandparent leave (3 days)

Enhanced maternity leave (24 weeks)

Pension & life insurance

Perkbox discounts (high street, cinema

Wellbeing hub & EAP

Free meals at work

Apprenticeships for career development

Performance bonus up to £5,000

Job summary

Holroyd Howe seeks an experienced Director of Catering to lead the Notting Hill & Ealing High School operation in London, delivering outstanding food and service for pupils and staff. You will manage the catering provision, budget, and team development across multiple sites in a high-profile education setting.

You will join a leading contract caterer dedicated to independent schools, with a focus on fresh, innovative menus, strong client relationships, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Senior catering or hospitality leadership experience, ideally in independent or B&I environment.
• Strong financial management and budget control.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management abilities.
• Ability to drive operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Knowledge of current trends in food, nutrition, and sustainability.
• Passion for delivering exceptional customer experiences.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategic plans for catering operations aligned with organisational goals.
• Lead and inspire multi-site teams, ensuring high standards of food quality, service, and hygiene.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance across all catering operations.
• Drive innovation in menu planning, sourcing, and sustainability initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant food safety, health and safety, and safeguarding policies.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, suppliers, and stakeholders.
• Champion staff development, training, and wellbeing.
• Accountability for following and championing allergen controls.

Skills

Leadership experience

Financial management

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

Operational excellence

Sustainability awareness

Customer experience

Job description

Job Title: Director of Catering

Salary: £55,000 per annum + performance-related bonus of £5,000

Location: West London, W3/W4 Area

Contract Type: Permanent, 52 working weeks per year

Why Join Us

• 28 days holiday (including bank holidays)
• 3 volunteering days to give back to causes you care about
• 3 days grandparent leave for those special family moments
• 24 weeks enhanced maternity leave
• Bespoke training & development opportunities
• Pension & life insurance
• Discounts on high street brands, cinema & holidays via the Perkbox App
• Wellbeing hub & access to employee assistance programme
• Free meals while at work
• Career development through apprenticeships for all experience levels
• Performance-related bonus of up to £5,000 per annum, paid termly

About the Role

We are seeking a passionate and experienced Director of Catering to lead the catering operation at Notting Hill & Ealing High School, a leading independent day school for girls aged 4-18 in Ealing, London. As General Manager, you will have overall responsibility for the catering provision, leading a talented team to deliver exceptional food and service standards for pupils, staff and visitors. You will oversee all aspects of the operation, including financial performance, team development, client relationships, marketing initiatives, innovation, compliance and the continued evolution of the food offer across the school.

You will be joining Holroyd Howe, one of the UK's leading contract caterers, providing fresh, innovative food services solely to independent schools and colleges. We are a team of experienced professionals who tailor our catering provision specifically to suit children of all ages, ensuring each service is bespoke to the needs of the school community.

In addition to the salary, there is an opportunity to earn up to £5,000 per annum through a performance-related bonus scheme, paid termly throughout the academic year.

Key performance indicators will include:

• Financial performance and budget management
• Pupil, parent and client satisfaction
• Marketing and engagement initiatives
• Cost-saving and efficiency improvements
• People development and team engagement
• Achievement of agreed business objectives and site targets

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious hospitality professional seeking a high-profile leadership role within one of the UK's most prestigious education catering environments.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategic plans for catering operations aligned with organisational goals.
• Lead and inspire multi-site teams, ensuring high standards of food quality, service, and hygiene.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance across all catering operations.
• Drive innovation in menu planning, sourcing, and sustainability initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant food safety, health and safety, and safeguarding policies.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, suppliers, and stakeholders.
• Champion staff development, training, and wellbeing
• Accountability for following and championing allergen controls

Qualifications

Candidate Profile

• Proven leadership experience in a senior catering or hospitality role, ideally in an independent or B&I environment.
• Strong financial management and budget control skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management abilities.
• Ability to drive operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Knowledge of current trends in food, nutrition, and sustainability.
• Passion for delivering exceptional customer experiences.

Additional Information

We pride ourselves on:

People first

We’re a company of individuals, united in doing our best for our clients.

Great food, always

Using only the best ingredients, our food is fresh, authentic and tailored to each school, age group, and specific needs and preferences.

Food education

We educate pupils through food, encouraging them to understand and develop their own personal tastes and make informed food choices.

Respect in everything we do

Our respectful codes of conduct inform how we behave towards our clients and customers, suppliers and business partners, and each other.

Fresh thinking

New ideas for food, service and ways of working help us maintain our position as creative leaders in school catering.

In order to be considered for this role you must be able to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK.

Holroyd Howe is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all employees to share this commitment. All roles within Holroyd Howe involve regulated activity. It is a criminal offence for individuals barred from working with children to apply for such roles. An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, including a Barred List check will be required for all successful applicants. Shortlisted applicants will be asked to provide information about relevant criminal offences and will be subject to an online search of publicly available information. This search helps identify any issues that may affect suitability to work with children.

This appointment is offered on the return of satisfactory professional references.