General Manager - Catering

Compass Group UK; Bristol; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading catering company in Bristol is seeking a General Manager to oversee nine café and kiosk operations. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership and operational expertise, with a focus on client engagement and strategic growth. This full-time position offers benefits such as free meals, a contributory pension, and career development programs.

Benefits

Free meals

Contributory pension scheme

Career development programs

Digital GP access

Travel discounts

Grocery discounts

Cinema ticket discounts

Cash rewards

Wellness and mindfulness classes

Qualifications

• Experience leading multi-site teams in catering or facilities management.
• Skilled at navigating complex client relationships.
• In-depth understanding of health & safety and food safety regulations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead long-term account plans across all sites.
• Implement senior client reviews to identify new opportunities.
• Communicate clear strategies to teams for performance enhancement.

Skills

Leadership

Client Engagement

Operational Excellence

Stakeholder Management

Communication

Commercial Acumen

Job description

Overview

Job Title: General Manager (Catering Operations)

Location: Bristol (covering 9 café/kiosk locations around the city centre)

Salary: Up to £45,000 per annum

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent (5 out of 7 days)

Are you a dynamic and strategic leader with a passion for food, service, and results? We’re seeking an experienced General Manager to oversee a vibrant and growing catering operations portfolio of nine café and kiosk operations across Bristol, which includes the stunning Courtyard Café at Ashton Court. If you’re ready to take the lead in driving commercial growth, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction, this is your opportunity to shine. Ideally the successful candidate will have experience from a contract catering background, with strong operational experience as well as a commercial mindset. If you have experience handling mobilisation projects, this will also be a huge advantage in this role. Dealing with various sized teams is also something that this role will be responsible for.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and lead long-term account plans across all sites, driving growth and retention of new and existing business.
• Client Engagement: Implement senior client reviews to identify new opportunities and enhance existing services.
• Operational Excellence: Communicate clear strategies and action plans to teams. Drive continuous improvement to enhance performance and customer satisfaction.
• Stakeholder Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with internal teams and external clients to foster collaboration and trust.
• Service & Brand Delivery: Align marketing strategies with operations to increase revenue and strengthen brand value.
• Compliance & Efficiency: Ensure adherence to Compass Group UK & Ireland purchasing policies. Manage labour costs, analyse trends, and adjust consumable budgets accordingly.

About You

We’re looking for a commercially astute, service-led professional with:

• Proven Leadership: Experience leading multi-site teams in catering or facilities management with a track record of success in transformation and change management.
• Client-Focused Approach: Skilled at navigating complex client relationships and delivering results under pressure.
• Strategic & Results-Oriented Mindset: Comfortable working within a commercial framework with a clear focus on performance and cost management.
• Strong Communication: Ability to implement effective communication strategies across sites, ensuring consistent messaging and motivation.
• Operational Expertise: In-depth understanding of health & safety, food safety regulations, and risk management.
• Commercial Experience: Familiarity with working within brand guidelines, managing in price-sensitive environments, and liaising with senior stakeholders.

Benefits

• Free meals
• Contributory pension scheme
• Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
• Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
• Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
• Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
• Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
• You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families

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/0909/78264001/52737846/R/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!