Managing Director [Operations]

Luminary Bakery; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Luminary Bakery is seeking an experienced Managing Director (Operations) to drive growth and operational excellence across its sites, including Kings Cross and Hackney Downs. You will lead strategy, performance, and social impact while embedding scalable processes and a culture of accountability.

You will oversee retail, production, facilities, compliance, logistics and people functions, ensuring safety, efficiency and profitability in a values-led, mission-driven environment.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience within hospitality, food production, retail or multi-site operations.
• Experience managing multiple sites and diverse operational teams.
• Strong understanding of food manufacturing, food safety and compliance.
• Proven experience improving operational performance and profitability.
• Experience leading change, growth projects or site openings.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen.
• Experience building and developing high-performing teams.
• Social enterprise or purpose-led business experience.
• Experience opening new hospitality locations.
• Experience leading ESG or sustainability initiatives.
• Experience scaling businesses through systems and operational infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Leadership, Finance & Strategy: guide overall direction and financial performance.
• Operations Oversight: ensure safe, efficient and profitable site operations.
• Kings Cross Growth: oversee new openings and expansion efforts.
• Compliance, Food Safety & Facilities: uphold standards and regulatory readiness.
• People & Culture: develop teams and foster inclusive culture.

Skills

Leadership

Operations management

Multi-site oversight

Hospitality/food production

Job description

We’re looking for an operational leader to join Luminary Bakery at an exciting time of growth. As we expand our social enterprise, you’ll play a pivotal role in driving both commercial success and social impact, helping shape Luminary Bakery’s future while empowering disadvantaged women through employment and training opportunities.

The Role

Luminary Bakery are a small but ambitious organisation, and we're looking for someone who wants ownership and influence across the whole business as we enter this exciting phase of growth. The Managing Director is responsible for the overall performance, sustainability and operational success of Luminary Bakery.

This role combines strategic leadership with hands‑on operational management. The successful candidate will oversee all retail, production, facilities, compliance, logistics and people functions across the business, ensuring every site operates safely, efficiently and profitably.

They will lead the next phase of Luminary Bakery's development, including the successful launch and operation of Kings Cross, the optimisation of Hackney Downs Studios production capacity, continuous improvement of Stoke Newington Café and the creation of a scalable operating model for future growth.

The Person

We’re seeking someone with a proven track record of business leadership and scaling, ideally within hospitality. We are looking for a values‑led, entrepreneurial leader who thinks strategically, and is equally comfortable rolling up their sleeves and getting involved in the details. Calm under pressure, you will bring clarity and good judgement to a fast‑moving environment, approaching challenges with a solutions‑focused, data‑driven mindset.

You will be an excellent communicator and natural relationship builder, able to inspire confidence and bring people with you. Above all, you will combine commercial ambition with a commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence, helping Luminary grow its impact while staying firmly rooted in its values.

What You’ll Get in Return

At Luminary Bakery, you can expect to join an award‑winning, mission‑driven enterprise where your leadership will directly impact the lives of women overcoming disadvantages. This is a rare opportunity to run a female‑led business where commercial success directly creates meaningful social impact. In an agile social enterprise like Luminary, there is real scope to influence strategy as well as delivery; this is a role for someone who wants the freedom to think entrepreneurially and see their ideas translate into tangible results. The foundations and purpose are already there, and the opportunity to make your mark is significant.

We offer a competitive salary, a supportive and inclusive team culture, the opportunity to lead a growing organisation with ambitious commercial and social objectives, along with the perks that come with our impressive client list and press opportunities! From the moment you join, you have 21 days of holidays, exclusive of bank holidays.

Title

Managing Director (Operations)

Reports to

Chair, Luminary Bakery Board

Note: This role will be required on‑site at one of these locations for the majority of the working week.

Hours

Full‑time, 40 hours per week

Anticipated start date

January 2027

About Luminary Bakery

Luminary Bakery is an award‑winning social enterprise using baking as a tool for social change. Through our cafés, bakery production kitchen and commercial trading activities, we create employment opportunities, work experience placements and apprenticeships for women who have experienced violence, disadvantage and multiple barriers to employment.

We operate a retail café in Stoke Newington, a central production kitchen at Hackney Downs Studios and are preparing to open a new café and bakery concept in Kings Cross. As we enter our next stage of growth, we are seeking an experienced operational leader to strengthen our foundations, embed operational excellence and build a business that is commercially sustainable, socially impactful and recognised for industry‑leading standards.

Purpose of the Role

Luminary Bakery is a small but ambitious organisation, and we're looking for someone who wants ownership and influence across the whole business as we enter this exciting phase of growth. The Managing Director is responsible for the overall performance, sustainability and operational success of Luminary Bakery.

This role combines strategic leadership with hands‑on operational management. The successful candidate will oversee all retail, production, facilities, compliance, logistics and people functions across the business, ensuring every site operates safely, efficiently and profitably.

They will lead the next phase of Luminary Bakery's development, including the successful launch and operation of Kings Cross, the optimisation of Hackney Downs Studios production capacity, continuous improvement of Stoke Newington Café and the creation of a scalable operating model for future growth.

The Director will champion a culture of accountability, quality, inclusion and continuous improvement while ensuring Luminary Bakery remains a market‑leading social enterprise.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership, Finance & Strategy
• Operations Oversight
• Kings Cross Growth
• Compliance, Food Safety & Facilities
• People & Culture

Person Specification

• Senior leadership experience within hospitality, food production, retail or multi‑site operations.
• Experience managing multiple sites and diverse operational teams.
• Strong understanding of food manufacturing, food safety and compliance.
• Proven experience improving operational performance and profitability.
• Experience leading change, growth projects or site openings.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen.
• Experience building and developing high‑performing teams.
• Social enterprise, charity or purpose‑led business experience.
• Experience opening new hospitality locations.
• SALSA, BRC, HACCP or equivalent food manufacturing experience.
• Experience leading ESG, sustainability or B Corp initiatives.
• Experience scaling businesses through systems, processes and operational infrastructure.

Personal Attributes

• Values‑led leader with high integrity.
• Strategic thinker who is equally comfortable rolling up their sleeves operationally.
• Calm under pressure and highly resilient.
• Excellent communicator and relationship builder.
• Data-driven and solutions‑focused.
• Passionate about social impact and women's empowerment.
• Committed to continuous improvement and operational excellence.