Hands-On General Manager: Restaurant & Pantry Ops

Compass Group UK; Greater London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Compass Group UK is seeking an experienced General Manager to lead a circa 8-strong team in a high-end corporate hospitality setting in London. You will manage daily restaurant and pantry operations with hands-on leadership during service, ensuring a consistently excellent guest experience.

In this role you will drive people leadership, operational execution, and client engagement while upholding safety and quality standards across the site.

Qualifications

• Established hospitality, restaurant, or contract-catering manager.
• Commercially aware with a strong understanding of business operations.
• Highly organised and confident taking ownership of a busy operation.
• Confident communicator who can build trusted relationships with clients and colleagues.
• Hands-on and visible within the operation, leading by example.
• Supportive team leader who helps colleagues perform at their best.
• Proactive, passionate, and committed to delivering exceptional hospitality experiences.
• Takes pride in maintaining high standards and creating a positive customer experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and develop your team.
• Oversee the daily restaurant, pantry and hospitality operations.
• Work alongside the team during service, setting the standard through a hands‑on approach.
• Deliver consistently high standards of food, service, cleanliness and presentation.
• Manage rotas, staffing levels, labour costs and operational budgets.
• Monitor stock, ordering, deliveries, waste and supplier performance.
• Build strong relationships with clients, customers and key stakeholders.
• Handle feedback and resolve operational issues quickly and professionally.
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, health and safety, allergen and company procedures.
• Support training, performance management and ongoing team development.
• Identify opportunities to improve service, efficiency and the overall customer experience.

Skills

Hospitality leadership

Contract catering

Commercial awareness

Communication

People development

Operational leadership

Customer service

Team management

Job description

Compass Group UK is seeking an experienced General Manager to lead a circa 8-strong team in a high-end corporate hospitality setting in London. You will manage daily restaurant and pantry operations with hands-on leadership during service, ensuring a consistently excellent guest experience.

In this role you will drive people leadership, operational execution, and client engagement while upholding safety and quality standards across the site.