Front Of House Manager

Sodexo; Salisbury; On-site; GBP 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading service organization in the United Kingdom is seeking a Front of House Manager to oversee operations at the Mess facility in Salisbury. This role requires strong leadership and customer service skills to ensure a high-quality experience for all users. Responsibilities include managing daily activities, ensuring compliance with service standards, and maintaining exceptional client relationships. The position offers a competitive salary and excellent employee benefits.

Benefits

Mental health & wellbeing support

Employee Assistance Programme

24/7 virtual GP

Discounts for you & family

Financial tools & retirement plan

Cycle to Work

Paid volunteering day

Qualifications

• Strong leadership and people management skills with experience in HR processes.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Good working knowledge of health & safety and food safety.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day activities to ensure high-quality experience.
• Oversee planning and delivery of services.
• Maintain service standards and compliance with SLAs.

Skills

Leadership skills

Customer service

Interpersonal skills

Problem-solving

Attention to detail

Education

Experience in soft FM service industry

H&S qualification

Tools

MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)

Job description

Job Introduction

Sodexo is seeking a highly motivated, organised and customer-focused Front of House Manager to lead the day-to-day operations of our Mess facility at Larkhill Garrison, Larkhill, SP4 8QT. This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic individual with strong leadership experience in soft FM, hospitality or similar service environments. You will play a crucial role in ensuring operational excellence, exceptional service delivery, and a first-class experience for all members, residents and guests.

What you’ll do:

Operational Leadership

• Manage all day-to-day activities within the Mess to ensure a high-quality experience for all users.
• Oversee the planning, coordination and delivery of services within your operational business area.
• Ensure compliance with Service Level Agreements (SLA), KPIs, contractual requirements and Sodexo service standards.
• Maintain exceptional service standards in line with the Schedule of Requirements (SOR) and quantity tables.
• Support the Mess Manager in liaising with the PMC, RSM, Mess Secretary and committee members.
• Provide absence and weekend on‑call support as required.

Service Excellence & Customer Experience

• Promote, support and manage functions including planning, menus and costing in partnership with the catering team.
• Ensure prompt delivery of all meals, catering services and hospitality events.
• Maintain outstanding client and customer relationships, acting on feedback and resolving complaints effectively.
• Ensure all written communication upholds a professional image to clients, customers and employees.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement, promotions and initiatives to drive service quality and revenue growth.

People Management

• Supervise, support and develop an assigned team of direct reports.
• Drive performance through strong leadership, coaching and adherence to standards.
• Champion employee engagement and support activities aligned with achieving IIP Gold standards.
• Maintain high levels of labour management and operational performance.

Business Performance & Compliance

• Contribute to business growth while maintaining strict budgetary control.
• Compile, agree and deliver an annual business plan with the line manager.
• Monitor and uphold all health & safety (H&S) and food safety (FS) standards.
• Ensure the security of client and company property, equipment and finances.
• Respond appropriately to incidents, accidents, food safety issues, loss or damage.
• Comply with all Sodexo policies, procedures and client site regulations.

Professional Development

• Engage in continued professional learning and development in soft FM services.
• Attend team briefs, performance development reviews (PDRs) and training as required.
• Maintain strong internal and external networks that support excellence in service delivery.

What you bring:

• Previous supervisory experience within the soft FM service industry.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, including experience in HR processes such as recruitment, training, performance management and handling employee relations issues.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with strong numeracy and interpersonal abilities.
• Good working knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel and Outlook).
• Strong health & safety and food safety awareness.
• Ability to make sound decisions, work independently and thrive as part of a team.
• High attention to detail and commitment to maintaining standards.
• Analytical problem‑solving skills with the ability to develop and implement innovative solutions.

Desirable

• Experience working within a military environment.
• Previous experience in a similar Front of House, Mess or hospitality management role.
• IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent H&S qualification.
• Technical knowledge across soft FM services including catering, hospitality, retail and cleaning.
• Proven track record of leading, motivating and developing teams.

What we offer:

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it’s a chance to be part of something greater. You’ll belong in a company and team that values you for you; you’ll act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions; and you’ll be able to thrive in your own way. In addition, we offer:

• Mental health & wellbeing support
• Employee Assistance Programme for personal, legal, and financial advice
• 24/7 virtual GP & lifestyle rewards
• Discounts for you & family
• Financial tools & retirement plan
• Cycle to Work & Paid volunteering day

Ready to be part of something greater? Apply today!

• 40 hours per week
• Monday to Friday 0730-1600 - weekends and shift cover sometimes required
• £31,408.69 per annum
• Sodexo rewards and benefits