General Manager (Multi-Site) - Luton

Chartwells Independent; Luton; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Chartwells Independent in Luton is seeking an experienced General Catering Manager to lead a newly mobilising multi-site contract. You will set standards, drive operational excellence, and work with client stakeholders and site teams to embed best practice from day one.

The role requires coaching large teams, delivering a culture of service and continuous improvement, and accountability for quality, safety, and financial performance across outlets.

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing catering operations across multiple sites.
• Proven change management experience.
• Strong catering background with operational expertise.
• Experience leading large and diverse teams.
• Client relationship and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience improving operational performance through coaching and training.
• Budgets, KPIs and financial controls understanding.
• Calm, resilient and solutions-focused in a dynamic environment.
• Exceptional communication and hands-on leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead the change management and ongoing management of a multi-site catering operation.
• Drive excellence in food quality, customer experience, health & safety, and financial performance.
• Build strong relationships with client stakeholders and become a trusted operational partner.
• Coach, develop and support managers and frontline teams to achieve their potential.
• Implement consistent standards, processes, training programmes, and ways of working across all locations.
• Monitor performance and identify opportunities to improve service delivery, engagement, and operational efficiency.
• Manage budgets, labour costs, purchasing, and contractual performance across the contract.
• Create a positive, customer-focused culture where colleagues feel supported and motivated.

Skills

Multi-site catering

Change management

Leadership

Foodservice knowledge

Client & stakeholder management

Coaching & development

Budget & KPIs

Job description

General Catering Manager (Multi-Site)

Location: Luton
Salary:up to £45,000 per annum, depending on experience
Contract: 40 hours, 7 day operation

We're looking for an experienced and ambitious General Catering Manager to lead a newly mobilising multi-site catering contract in Luton. This is an exciting opportunity for a proven catering professional who thrives in fast-paced environments, enjoys building high-performing teams, and is passionate about delivering exceptional food and service experiences.

As the senior catering leader across multiple outlets, you'll play a key role in establishing operational excellence from day one. You'll work closely with both client stakeholders and site teams, embedding best practice, developing capability, and creating a culture built on service, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

This role will suit someone who enjoys being highly visible within an operation, is comfortable leading through change, and has a genuine talent for coaching, mentoring and developing others.

What You'll Be Doing

• Leading the change management and ongoing management of a multi-site catering operation.
• Driving excellence in food quality, customer experience, health & safety, and financial performance.
• Building strong relationships with client stakeholders and becoming a trusted operational partner.
• Coaching, developing and supporting managers and frontline teams to achieve their full potential.
• Implementing consistent standards, processes, training programmes, and ways of working across all locations.
• Monitoring performance and identifying opportunities to improve service delivery, engagement, and operational efficiency.
• Managing budgets, labour costs, purchasing, and commercial performance across the contract.
• Creating a positive, customer-focused culture where colleagues feel supported, engaged, and motivated to succeed.

What We're Looking For

• Significant experience managing catering operations across multiple sites.
• Proven change management experience.
• A strong catering background with excellent foodservice knowledge and operational expertise.
• Demonstrable experience leading large and diverse teams.
• Strong client relationship and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience improving operational performance through coaching, training, and team development.
• Commercially astute with a solid understanding of budgets, KPIs, and financial controls.
• The ability to remain calm, resilient, and solutions-focused in a dynamic environment.
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills with a hands-on approach.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to make a genuine impact on a developing contract and leave your mark from the very beginning. You'll have the autonomy to shape standards, develop teams, strengthen client relationships, and build an operation known for outstanding food, service, and performance.

Job Reference: com/0209/45364001/52830880/SU

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!