Head of Catering Operations

Compass Group UK; Rugby; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary £80,000-£100,000

Location Rugby

Senior leadership role

Impact strategy across schools

Education sector exposure

Job summary

Rugby School is seeking a Head of Operations to lead the strategic and operational delivery of catering, hospitality, facilities support services, logistics and operational excellence across Rugby School and Bilton Grange. The role will report to the Chief Operating Officer and drive performance in a complex, high-visibility environment.

This senior leadership position requires strong commercial and financial acumen, ability to lead large teams, and a proven track record of delivering

Responsibilities

• Setting the strategic direction for operational services across Rugby School and Bilton Grange.
• Leading multiple operational functions to ensure seamless day-to-day delivery.
• Creating and embedding best-in-class service standards and operational excellence.
• Building, developing and inspiring high-performing leadership and operational teams.
• Driving continuous improvement, innovation and transformational change initiatives.
• Leading financial planning, budgeting, commercial performance and cost management.
• Strengthening governance, compliance, risk management and operational accountability.
• Ensuring operational services support the wellbeing and experience of students, staff and visitors.
• Acting as a visible ambassador for Lodestone House, Rugby School and the wider Rugby community.
• Building strong relationships with senior stakeholders, school leaders, staff, families, suppliers and external partners.

Job description

Head of Operations

Rugby, Warwickshire

£80,000 - £100,000 per annum, dependent on experience

Lead Operational Excellence Across One of the UK's Most Prestigious Educational Communities

A rare opportunity has arisen to join one of the UK's most distinguished educational institutions as Head of Operations, leading the strategic and operational delivery of catering, hospitality, facilities support services, logistics and operational excellence across Rugby School and Bilton Grange.

This is far more than a traditional operational leadership role. We are seeking an exceptional senior leader who can combine commercial acumen, operational excellence and inspiring people leadership to create a sector‑leading operational environment that supports an outstanding student, staff and visitor experience.

Working closely with the Chief Operating Officer, Senior Leadership Team, House Masters and operational teams, you will set the vision, establish best‑in‑class standards and drive performance across a complex and highly visible environment.

For the right individual, there will also be opportunities to influence wider operational strategy across the broader Rugby School Group in the future.

The Opportunity

As Head of Operations, you will be responsible for shaping and delivering a long-term operational strategy that enhances service delivery, operational performance, stakeholder satisfaction and financial sustainability.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Setting the strategic direction for operational services across Rugby School and Bilton Grange.
• Leading multiple operational functions to ensure seamless day‑to‑day delivery across the schools.
• Creating and embedding best‑in‑class service standards and operational excellence.
• Building, developing and inspiring high‑performing leadership and operational teams.
• Driving continuous improvement, innovation and transformational change initiatives.
• Leading financial planning, budgeting, commercial performance and cost management.
• Strengthening governance, compliance, risk management and operational accountability.
• Ensuring operational services support the wellbeing and experience of students, staff and visitors.
• Acting as a visible ambassador for Lodestone House, Rugby School and the wider Rugby community.
• Building strong relationships with senior stakeholders, school leaders, staff, families, suppliers and external partners.

What Success Looks Like

You will create a lasting legacy through:

• Consistently high‑performing operational services across both schools.
• A clear and sustainable operational strategy aligned to the schools' long‑term vision.
• Strong leadership capability and succession planning across operational teams.
• Simplified processes, improved efficiencies and enhanced service delivery.
• Strong governance, compliance and risk management practices.
• Financial clarity, control and long‑term value creation.
• A recognised benchmark for operational excellence within independent education.

About You

You will be an accomplished and influential senior leader with the ability to think strategically whilst remaining connected to operational delivery.

We are particularly interested in candidates from:

• Independent education.
• Multi‑site operations.
• Facilities management.
• Hospitality and service‑led organisations.
• Contract catering.
• Complex operational environments with significant stakeholder engagement.

You will bring:

• Proven senior operational leadership experience within education, hospitality, facilities management or a related service industry.
• Strong commercial and financial management expertise.
• A track record of leading large and diverse teams across multiple functions.
• Experience delivering operational transformation and cultural change.
• The ability to influence and build trusted relationships at executive level.
• Strong strategic planning, organisational and leadership capabilities.
• Excellent understanding of governance, compliance, health and safety and risk management.
• Sound judgement with the ability to balance service excellence, operational effectiveness and long‑term sustainability.
• A passion for delivering exceptional stakeholder experiences and continuous improvement.

Why Join Rugby School?

Rugby School is one of the UK's most distinguished educational communities, recognised for its rich heritage, excellence and commitment to providing an exceptional student experience.

This role offers the opportunity to make a visible and lasting impact on daily school life while helping shape the future of operational excellence across a highly respected institution.

About Lodestone House

Lodestone House is committed to delivering exceptional support services within independent education through innovation, strong partnerships and operational excellence.

Our ambition is simple: to create environments where students, staff and visitors can thrive every day through outstanding service delivery and operational leadership.

Package

• Salary: £80,000 - £100,000 per annum
• Location: Rugby, Warwickshire
• Senior leadership position within a prestigious educational environment
• Opportunity to influence strategy across a wider group of schools
• Significant scope to shape and develop operational services across multiple functions