National Operations Manager

Gather & Gather UK; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A catering company is seeking a National Operations Manager to oversee a 6-month fixed-term contract in the UK. Ideal candidates should have management experience in the contract catering or hospitality sector, strong communication skills, and a passion for food and customer service. The role includes managing 9 sites, ensuring quality food services, and developing team members. Attractive benefits include personal development opportunities, life assurance, and a well-being strategy.

Benefits

Personal Development and Training opportunities

Life assurance scheme

Pension scheme

Holiday allowance

Private medical eligibility

Eye care

Wellbeing strategy

Regular social events

Holiday purchase scheme

Volunteering days

Recognition schemes

Access to discounts

Qualifications

• Experience working in a management role within the contract catering or hospitality sector.
• Demonstrate a real passion for food, customer service, and commercial awareness.
• Strong communication skills—both written and verbal.
• Confident with computer and administrative skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, organisational, and leadership skills.
• Bring a ‘can do’ attitude and great attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Overall efficient management of a workplace contract with 9 sites.
• Maintain positive client relationships to ensure partnership.
• Manage recruitment, development, and training of team members.
• Ensure compliance with company policies.
• Deliver on financial budgets and targets.
• Support sales revenue growth through marketing activities.

Skills

Management experience in contract catering or hospitality sector

Passion for food and customer service

Strong communication skills

Computer and administrative skills

Interpersonal and leadership skills

Attention to detail

Job description

Great food in the workplace isn’t simply about fuel. It’s about increasing productivity and improving performance; it’s about happy motivated people and inspiring environments. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do - we live to bring food and people together.

We are brave, bold and curious adventurers in food and drink. Never shy of being different, always challenging the conventional.

Our passionate team of chefs, baristas, servers, nutritionists and much more, love nothing more than creating memorable moments that enrich the everyday. Come and join our award winning teams - we are currently recruiting for a National Operations Manager to work with us for a 6 month fixed term contract that does offer the potential to extend after this time.

Location: Flexible- we have sites in Scotland, Cambridge, Newcastle, Andover, Coventry

Working Pattern: Monday - Friday - 40 hours per week

Salary: £50,000 - £55,000 per annum + car + bonus

Key Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the overall efficient and effective management of a workplace contract with 9 sites - £4.2million turnover, ensuring great quality, consistent food and beverage services for breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Maintain positive client relationships to ensure true partnership in their business
• Experience with managing shift work
• Ability to set standards within food
• Passionate about quality high end retail food options to be provided on site
• Manage recruitment, development, and training of team members
• Ensure the contract is fully compliant with company policies and procedures
• Deliver on agreed financial budgets and run commercially in line with net income and cost targets
• Support sales revenue growth through marketing and promotional activities

Our ideal Operations Manager will:

• Have experience working in a management role within the contract catering or hospitality sector - we welcome high street applications who are looking for a better work life balance!
• Demonstrate a real passion for food, customer service, and commercial awareness
• Possess strong communication skills—both written and verbal
• Be confident with computer and administrative skills
• Have excellent interpersonal, organisational, and leadership skills
• Bring a ‘can do’ attitude and great attention to detail

What's in it for you?

• Personal Development and Training opportunities
• Life assurance scheme
• Pension scheme
• Holiday allowance
• Private medical eligibility
• Eye care
• A great wellbeing strategy - including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, salary finance
• Family friendly support
• Regular social events and communication with our leaders
• A holiday purchase scheme
• Volunteering days
• Professional subscriptions
• Recognition schemes and people awards
• Long service awards
• Access to some great high street discount vouchers