Front Of House Manager - Petworth

Holroyd Howe; Petworth; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading catering company in the UK seeks a passionate and proactive Front of House Manager to lead the food operation at Seaford College. This role involves supervising a talented catering team, ensuring quality and service in food delivery, and managing events. Candidates should have a strong background in large-scale hospitality events and excellent communication skills. Benefits include enhanced maternity leave, training opportunities, and more.

Benefits

Volunteering days

Grandparent leave

Enhanced maternity leave

Bespoke training & development

Pension & life insurance

Discounts via Perkbox App

Wellbeing hub access

Free meals at work

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Strong background in large-scale hospitality events, banquets, and sit-down dinners.
• Excellent product knowledge regarding food and beverage.
• Experience in food and beverage operations.

Responsibilities

• Recruit, train, and supervise the catering team.
• Monitor food quality and service standards.
• Manage the flow of events and café bar operations.
• Foster positive relationships with clients and guests.
• Handle customer inquiries and feedback.

Skills

Strong background in large-scale hospitality events

Excellent product knowledge (food/beverage)

Experience in F&B operations

Excellent communication skills

Time management

Customer care skills

Job description

We're looking for a passionate and proactive Front of House Manager to help lead the food operation at Seaford College, a top independent day and boarding school known for excellence and innovation. You'll support the General Manager in overseeing a talented catering team, ensuring the smooth delivery of fresh, seasonal, and nutritious meals for pupils, staff, and guests. The role includes some involvement in hospitality and events, particularly during term time, with a reduced operation outside of term. This is a great opportunity for someone with a food‑led background and a hands‑on approach, who thrives in a supportive environment where quality and service come first. If you're ready to bring your leadership and operational expertise to a rewarding and prestigious setting, we'd love to hear from you.

You will be supporting the GM in overseeing the overall catering operation by creating and maintaining standards while driving sales and building relationships with clients.

Responsibilities

• Supervision and Training – recruit, train, and supervise catering team, including servers, chefs, and support personnel. Set clear expectations and provide ongoing feedback to maintain a high level of performance.
• Quality Control – monitor food quality, presentation, and service standards to ensure they meet or exceed customer expectations. Address and resolve any issues or concerns promptly to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Logistics Management – oversee the flow of events and on‑site Café Bar and Restaurant, including food service, beverage distribution, and guest interactions. Manage inventory and order supplies as needed to maintain adequate stock levels working closely with the back‑of‑house and managers on site.
• Customer Service – foster positive relationships with clients and guests, addressing their needs and concerns. Handle customer inquiries, requests, and special dietary requirements with professionalism and courtesy. Be curious, solicit feedback from clients to continuously improve catering services.
• 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.

Qualifications

• A strong background in large‑scale hospitality events, banquets and sit‑down dinners
• Excellent product knowledge (food/beverage)
• Experience in F&B operations
• A positive demeanour and attitude to solve problems
• Leads by example by acting professionally at all times
• Excellent communication skills
• Takes the initiative
• Good time management
• Supportive / Team player
• Good presentation skills
• Excellent customer care skills

Benefits

• 3 volunteering days to give back to causes you care about
• 3 days grandparent leave for 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 & HIT apprenticeships for all experience levels