General Manager

Holroyd Howe; Petworth; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading catering company is seeking an experienced General Manager to oversee operations, delivering daily meals to over 1,200 pupils while managing a large team. The role emphasizes high standards of service, operational excellence, and financial management. Ideal candidates will have a background in high-volume catering environments and strong leadership skills.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a General Manager or Deputy GM in high-volume, quality-focused environment.
• Financially astute with experience in budgeting and commercial performance.
• Must be a car driver with a current, valid driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Oversee entire catering operation delivering meals for 1,200+ pupils.
• Lead and develop a large team ensuring high service standards.
• Manage operational logistics including budgeting, stock control, and meal planning.

Skills

Analytical skills

Coaching skills

Organisational skills

Communication

Strategic thinking

Job description

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• Oversee the entire catering operation, delivering daily meals for 1,200+ pupils and staff, including managing the 6th form café and hospitality services.
• Lead and develop a large team, ensuring high standards of service, safety, and hygiene across all areas.
• Manage operational logistics, including budgeting, stock control, supplier negotiations, meal planning, and allergen management.
• Coordinate closely with school administration to integrate catering services with school events, functions, and external hospitality needs.
• Maintain operational excellence in a challenging logistics environment, focusing on efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Implement and uphold food safety and quality standards (HACCP) across all catering operations.
• Oversee the hospitality and lettings segments, ensuring a seamless experience for external events and high-profile functions.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, adapting operations to meet changing demands and enhance service delivery.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee the entire catering operation, delivering daily meals for 1,200+ pupils and staff, including managing the 6th form café and hospitality services.
• Lead and develop a large team, ensuring high standards of service, safety, and hygiene across all areas.
• Manage operational logistics, including budgeting, stock control, supplier negotiations, meal planning, and allergen management.
• Coordinate closely with school administration to integrate catering services with school events, functions, and external hospitality needs.
• Maintain operational excellence in a challenging logistics environment, focusing on efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Implement and uphold food safety and quality standards (HACCP) across all catering operations.
• Oversee the hospitality and lettings segments, ensuring a seamless experience for external events and high-profile functions.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, adapting operations to meet changing demands and enhance service delivery.

Qualifications

Requirements:

• Must be a car driver with a current, valid driver's license.
• Proven experience as a General Manager or Deputy General Manager in a high-volume, quality-focused environment.
• You can demonstrate that managing, training, and supporting a team has been an important part of your career to date.
• Financially astute, you are very analytical and know how to create and maintain budgets and drive commercial performance.
• Excellent coaching, delegation and influencing skills.
• Ability to prioritise multiple projects in a fast-paced, multi-faceted, creative environment and able to thrive under pressure.
• Ability to multitask, prioritise responsibilities, and adapt to changing circumstances in a fast-paced environment.
• Meticulous organisational abilities and a high attention to detail
• Empathetic, clear and highly effective verbal and written communication
• Ability to adapt to challenges and opportunities with a solution-oriented perspective.
• Excellent strategic thinking and critical reasoning skills

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 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.

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