General Manager

TN United Kingdom; Haywards Heath; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a passionate General Manager to lead catering operations at a prestigious preparatory school. This role involves delivering high-quality meals for students and staff, managing a dedicated team, and ensuring exceptional dining experiences. With a focus on nutrition and sustainability, you will create diverse menus and uphold food safety standards. Join a supportive environment that values training and development, and make a meaningful impact on the lives of young learners through exceptional culinary offerings.

Benefits

28 days holiday plus bank holidays

Enhanced maternity leave

Bespoke training and development opportunities

Pension and life insurance

Discounts through Perkbox

Wellbeing hub access

Free meals while at work

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing catering operations, ideally in an educational setting.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily kitchen and dining operations.
• Develop seasonal menus that meet nutritional guidelines.
• Ensure food hygiene and allergen management standards.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organizational Skills

Food Safety

Nutrition

Education

Relevant Catering Qualifications (e.g. Level 3 Food Safety)

Job description

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General Manager – Handcross Park School
Location:Handcross Park School -RH17 6HF
Salary:Up to £50,000 per annum

Benefits:

• 52-week contract, with limited out-of-term operations
• 28 days holiday as well as bank holiday
• 24 weeks enhanced maternity leave
• Bespoke training and development opportunities
• Pension and life insurance
• Discounts available through Perkbox benefits app (high street shops, holidays, cinema)
• Wellbeing hub & access to employee assistance programme
• Free meals while at work
• Career development opportunities and HIT Apprenticeships for all experience levels

Handcross Park School is a co-educational independent preparatory school for children aged 2 to 13, located in Handcross, West Sussex, England. We are currently seeking a General Manager to oversee our catering operationsand offerings which reflect the schools commitment to providing a supportive and enriching environment for both its students and the wider community.

We are seeking an experienced and passionate General Manager to lead our on-site catering team. You will be responsible for delivering a high-quality, nutritious, and appealing food offering for pupils, staff, and visitors - including full board for residential students, daily meals, events, and occasional external hospitality.

If you're passionate about delivering exceptional dining experiences and leading a team in a prestigious educational setting, this is a fantastic opportunity to join Handcross Park School!

Company Description

General Manager – Handcross Park School
Location:Handcross Park School -RH17 6HF
Salary:Up to £50,000 per annum

Benefits:

• 52-week contract, with limited out-of-term operations
• 28 days holiday as well as bank holiday
• 3 volunteering days
• 3 days grandparent leave
• 24 weeks enhanced maternity leave
• Bespoke training and development opportunities
• Pension and life insurance
• Discounts available through Perkbox benefits app (high street shops, holidays, cinema)
• Wellbeing hub & access to employee assistance programme
• Free meals while at work
• Career development opportunities and HIT Apprenticeships for all experience levels

Handcross Park School is a co-educational independent preparatory school for children aged 2 to 13, located in Handcross, West Sussex, England. We are currently seeking a General Manager to oversee our catering operationsand offerings which reflect the schools commitment to providing a supportive and enriching environment for both its students and the wider community.

We are seeking an experienced and passionate General Manager to lead our on-site catering team. You will be responsible for delivering a high-quality, nutritious, and appealing food offering for pupils, staff, and visitors - including full board for residential students, daily meals, events, and occasional external hospitality.

If you're passionate about delivering exceptional dining experiences and leading a team in a prestigious educational setting, this is a fantastic opportunity to join Handcross Park School!

Job Description

• Oversee the daily operations of the kitchen and dining services.

• Develop diverse, seasonal menus that meet nutritional guidelines and delight pupils aged 2–13.

• Ensure exceptional food hygiene, health and safety, and allergen management standards.

• Manage catering staff: recruitment, training, rotas, and performance.

• Work collaboratively with teaching and pastoral teams to support special diets, themed days, and school events.

• Maintain strong supplier relationships and manage catering budgets effectively.

• Uphold the welcoming, family-style dining ethos of the school.

Qualifications

What We’re Looking For:

• Proven experience managing catering operations, ideally in an educational or residential setting.

• Excellent leadership, communication, and organisational skills.

• A genuine passion for food, nutrition, and child-focused service.

• Relevant catering qualifications (e.g. Level 3 Food Safety, HACCP).

• Flexibility,

Additional Information

Holroyd Howe is 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 service provision specifically to suit children of all ages in order to meet the bespoke requirements of each school.

To provide our teams with the right skills to succeed in their jobs, we invest in their training and development. Our exceptional teams of seasoned specialists customise our catering services to fit children of all ages and satisfy the unique needs of our clients.

We pride ourselves on:

Sustainability

Sustainability is at the heart of our thinking; always mindful of the ethics of our sourcing and how we prepare our meals.

Nutrition

We take nutrition seriously and understand the impact a healthy diet has on the fundamental years of development. Meals are always freshly prepared from scratch and packed with nutritious ingredients.

Food Innovation

We offer a wide portfolio of training opportunities and experiences, which attracts chefs who are passionate about culinary excellence and menu innovation to our team.

From tasting tables, theme days and food theatre, to chef demonstrations and supplier showcases, we create engaging and fun dining experiences for our students. We work together to make mealtimes exploratory, quirky, and fun for our pupils, helping them build strong and healthy relationships with food.

“Holroyd Howe is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all employees to share this commitment. All roles within Holroyd Howe are regarded as regulated activity, it is an offence to apply for a role in regulated activity if you are barred from working with children, therefore we will require an Enhanced DBS which includes a Barred List check for all successful applicants. We will also require shortlisted applicants to provide appropriate information regarding any criminal offences and shortlisted applicants will be subject to an online search of public available information on suitability to work with children.“

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

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