General Manager / Support Manager

Houston & Hawkes; Greater London; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Birthday off every year

Free meals on duty

Contributory pension scheme

Life assurance

CODE Hospitality membership

Job summary

Houston & Hawkes is seeking an experienced Support Manager / General Manager to work closely with the Operations Manager, delivering hands-on leadership across a portfolio of prestigious London client sites.

You will cover General Managers during holidays, support mobilisations and projects, and drive service excellence with strong commercial awareness and a practical, solutions-focused approach.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership experience in general/hospitality management within contract catering.
• Experience managing premium food and hospitality operations.
• Ability to move between London sites and adapt quickly.
• Excellent organisation and budget awareness.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Operations Manager, providing hands-on operational support across London sites.
• Support a portfolio of prestigious client sites and lead wherever additional leadership is required.
• Cover General Managers during holidays and peak periods.
• Support mobilisations, new contract activity and key operational projects.
• Lead, motivate and support site teams to maintain high service standards.

Skills

Leadership

Hospitality management

Budgeting

Client relationships

Mobilisations experience

Job description

Houston & Hawkes | London | £46,000 per
annum | Monday to Friday

Variety, responsibility and the opportunity
to make a real impact across some of our most prestigious London client sites.

Houston & Hawkes is looking for an
experienced Support Manager / General Manager to work closely with the
Operations Manager, providing hands-on support across a portfolio of
prestigious London client sites. This is a varied senior role for someone who
can step confidently into different operations, support our teams and help
maintain exceptional standards wherever they are needed.

From covering General Managers during
holidays to supporting mobilisations, projects and busy periods, no two weeks
will look exactly the same. You’ll bring strong leadership, commercial
awareness and a practical, solutions-focused approach, becoming a trusted
source of support for both the Operations Manager and our site teams.

THE ROLE

• Work closely with the Operations Manager,
  providing hands-on operational support across London
• Support a portfolio of prestigious client
  sites, stepping in wherever additional leadership is required
• Cover General Managers during holidays,
  absence and other periods of operational need
• Support mobilisations, new contract
  activity and key operational projects
• Step confidently into different sites and
  quickly understand their teams, service and priorities
• Maintain exceptional food, hospitality and
  service standards across every operation you support
• Lead, motivate and support site teams,
  providing stability and direction when required
• Build strong relationships with clients,
  site teams and key stakeholders
• Support operational planning, staffing,
  training and continuous service improvement
• Assist with budgets, labour, purchasing,
  stock and key commercial controls
• Identify opportunities to improve
  standards, service delivery and operational efficiency
• Support compliance across health and
  safety, food safety, allergens and company procedures

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

• Strong experience as a General Manager,
  Support Manager or senior hospitality manager within contract catering
• Experience managing premium food and
  hospitality operations
• The confidence and flexibility to move
  between different London sites and adapt quickly
• Strong leadership skills with a supportive,
  hands-on management style
• Excellent commercial awareness and
  confidence working with budgets, labour and operational figures
• Experience supporting mobilisations,
  projects or new contract activity would be highly desirable
• Excellent organisation and the ability to
  manage changing priorities
• Strong client and stakeholder relationship
  skills
• A polished, professional approach and
  exceptional attention to detail
• The ability to coach, motivate and bring
  out the best in teams
• A positive, solutions-focused approach and
  the confidence to take ownership

WHY JOIN HOUSTON & HAWKES?

• £46,000 per annum
• Monday to Friday
• A varied senior role supporting prestigious
  London client sites
• The opportunity to work closely with the
  Operations Manager across projects and mobilisations
• Birthday off every year
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption
  leave
• Free meals on duty
• Contributory pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• CODE Hospitality membership
• Ongoing learning, development and genuine
  career progression
• Summer Awards Party celebrating our people
  and achievements
• An unforgettable Christmas Party at one of
  London’s outstanding venues

ABOUT HOUSTON & HAWKES

Houston & Hawkes is an award-winning
independent caterer creating vibrant, creative and exceptional food and
hospitality experiences across some of the UK’s most prestigious client sites.

We’re a Certified B Corp, recipient of the
King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development 2026 and proud to be
ranked No. 14 in The Caterer’s Best Places to Work in Hospitality.

If you are an experienced hospitality
leader who enjoys variety, thrives on supporting people and wants to make a
difference across multiple London operations, we would love to hear from you.