General Manager

Chartwells Independent; Greater London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Free staff meals

On-site F&B discounts

Access to training and development

Job summary

Compass Group UK&I, working through Restaurant Associates, is seeking a proactive General Manager to lead catering, events and hospitality at the Imperial War Museum Churchill War Rooms in London. You will oversee a busy café operation and a dynamic conference/event diary, ensuring exceptional service daily and driving efficiency across onsite teams.

Leading a Café Manager and an Event Operations Manager, you will manage labour, budgets and revenue opportunities while building strong stakeholder

Qualifications

• 2+ years’ experience as a General Manager or 4+ years’ experience as a Deputy General Manager or Operations Manager within hospitality.

Responsibilities

• Leading, training and developing a motivated, skilled team of operators and culinary teams.
• Managing all aspects of labour planning, cost control and forecasting.
• Identifying and driving commercial opportunities to maximise revenue within food and beverage.
• Maintaining strong client relationships and ensuring their expectations are exceeded.

Skills

Leadership

Financial awareness

Budgeting

Labour management

Stakeholder engagement

Customer service

Operations management

Communication

Job description

Location: Imperial War Museum Churchill War Rooms, London
Salary: Up to £58,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time, 5 out of 7 days per week

What can we offer you:

• A collaborative and inclusive culture, where your ideas are valued, and creativity is encouraged.
• 25 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays).
• Free staff meals whilst at work.
• Access to Compass Group company perks & benefits.
• Perks at Work 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.

About the Role:

We’re seeking a proactive and people-focused General Manager to lead the catering, events and hospitality operations at the historic Imperial War Museum Churchill War Rooms, based in London. This is a fantastic opportunity to spearhead visitor experiences within a world-class attraction that welcomes guests from across the globe.

As General Manager, you will lead a Café Manager and an Event Operations Manager who oversee both the retail and events food and beverage operation. You will ensure the smooth running of our busy café operation as well as a varied conference and events diary.

You will be responsible for delivering exceptional service standards daily through the onsite teams and will consistently strive to identify opportunities to improve the efficiency and performance of the operation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading, training and developing a motivated, skilled team of operators and culinary teams.
• Managing all aspects of labour planning, cost control and forecasting.
• Identifying and driving commercial opportunities to maximise revenue within food and beverage.
• Maintaining strong client relationships and ensuring their expectations are exceeded.
• Overseeing operational delivery across all food and hospitality services.
• Ensuring compliance with company policies, health and safety standards and financial targets.
• Supporting and delivering the venue’s growth strategy in partnership with the client.
• Ensuring consistent delivery of high service standards through active floor leadership and team engagement.
• Building strong working relationships with venue stakeholders, assisting in responding to feedback and ensuring client satisfaction.

About You:

• 2+ years’ experience as a General Manager or 4+ years’ experience as a Deputy General Manager or Operations 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.

About Us

Part of Compass Group UK&I, Restaurant Associates provides brilliant hospitality through our food, drink and services. We work with our partners and collaborate with our clients to achieve great things together. Every day, our teams of passionate hospitality professionals strive for excellence in delivering employee dining and hospitality to some of the UK's leading workplace as well as inspiring exceptional experiences in iconic cultural and heritage destinations.

Job Reference: com/2209/90345001/52834932/SU #RA Venues

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!