Operations Director – Guildford,

Holroyd Howe; Guildford; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading catering company is seeking an experienced Operations Director to oversee teams in Surrey, Sussex, and Kent. The role involves developing operational strategies and ensuring high-quality service delivery to schools. Ideal candidates have a strong background in food service operations, excellent leadership skills, and a passion for innovative catering solutions. This position offers a competitive salary and extensive benefits including training opportunities and a supportive work environment.

Benefits

30 Days holiday including bank holidays

Car or Car allowance

Bespoke training and development opportunities

Pension and life insurance

Private medical

Free meals whilst at work

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Thrive on getting the best out of people and maximising commercial opportunities.
• Ability to provide coaching, mentoring, and training for leadership development.
• Proven track record in driving operational efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategies to optimise operational efficiency.
• Provide leadership and guidance to operational managers.
• Collaborate with the sales team to support business development efforts.

Skills

Excellent negotiating skills

Financially and commercially astute

Strong understanding of report writing and financial management

Excellent management and communication skills

Analytical approach to problem-solving

Passion for food and customer service

Education

Previous experience in an Operations Director role ideally in Food Service

Job description

Operations Director – Guildford,

Company Description

Operations Director

Surrey / Sussex / Kent

Highly Competitive Salary

Benefits:

• 30 Days holiday including bank holidays
• Car or Car allowance
• 3 volunteering days
• 3 days grandparent leave
• 24 week’s enhanced maternity leave
• Bespoke training and development opportunities
• Pension and life insurance and Private medical
• Discounts available on our HAPI app; high street shops, holidays & cinema
• Wellbeing hub
• Access to employee assistance programme
• Free meals whilst at work
• Career development opportunities
• HIT Apprenticeships for all experience levels

Holroyd Howe is one of the UK’s leading contract caterers, providing fresh innovative food services solely to independent schools and colleges. We are a team of experienced professionals who tailor our catering service provision specifically to suit children of all ages in order to meet the bespoke requirements of each school.

To provide our teams with the right skills to succeed in their jobs, we invest in their training and development. Our exceptional teams of seasoned specialists customise our catering services to fit children of all ages and satisfy the unique needs of our clients.

As the culinary landscape evolves, so too does our commitment to food innovation and nutrition at Holroyd Howe.

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a talented Operations Director to develop and lead a team of Operation Managers located across Surrey, Sussex and Kent to provide exceptional service to our clients.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an inspirational and enthusiastic Operations Director to make a name for themselves within the Food Serviceindustry.

In return we offer support and development to grow within our business alongside a competitive salary.

Job Description

As an Operations Director, you will play a crucial role in retaining and growing partnerships with schools, as well as optimising our business processes, improving efficiency, and driving overall operational excellence. You will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies, policies, and procedures to ensure smooth operations and achieve organisational goals. Creating value for clients and the company is key to our success.

• Develop and implement strategies to optimise operational efficiency, quality, and profitability across all catering contracts.
• Provide leadership and guidance to operational managers, fostering a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and operational metrics to evaluate performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Maintain a strong business relationship with each school and with the clients (Heads and Bursars)
• Collaborate with the sales team to support business development efforts, including client presentations, contract negotiations, and renewals.
• Address client feedback and concerns promptly, striving to resolve issues and enhance overall satisfaction.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant food safety regulations, health and safety standards, and company policies and procedures.
• Implement rigorous quality assurance measures to uphold food quality, presentation standards, and service excellence.
• Conduct regular audits and inspections to assess compliance and identify areas for corrective action.
• Work closely with the finance department to develop budgets, forecasts, and financial targets for catering operations.
• Monitor financial performance against targets, analysing variances and implementing cost control measures where necessary.
• Identify opportunities for revenue growth and cost savings, driving initiatives to improve profitability.
• Lead initiatives to enhance operational processes, systems, and technologies, driving innovation and efficiency gains.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and development within the operations team, providing training and mentoring to support career growth.
• Stay abreast of industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies, incorporating relevant advancements into operational strategies.

Qualifications

• Thrive on getting the best out of people and maximising commercial opportunities.
• Ability to provide coaching, mentoring, and training opportunities to develop leadership capabilities and support career progression, and succession planning amongst your team.
• Excellent negotiating skills
• Financially and commercially astute
• Previous experience in a Operations Director role ideally in Food Service
• Strong understanding of report writing and financial management.
• Excellent management and communication skills
• Excellent delegation and influencing skills.
• Able to demonstrate your analytical approach to problem-solving.
• Ability to devise and implement strategies to benefit both the company and the client.
• Ability to display a real passion for food and customer service.

Additional Information

We pride ourselves on:

Sustainability

Sustainability is at the heart of our thinking; always mindful of the ethics of our sourcing and how we prepare our meals.

Nutrition

We take nutrition seriously and understand the impact a healthy diet has on the fundamental years of development. Meals are always freshly prepared from scratch and packed with nutritious ingredients.

Food Innovation

We offer a wide portfolio of training opportunities and experiences, which attracts chefs who are passionate about culinary excellence and menu innovation to our team.

From tasting tables, theme days and food theatre, to chef demonstrations and supplier showcases, we create engaging and fun dining experiences for our students. We work together to make mealtimes exploratory, quirky, and fun for our pupils, helping them build strong and healthy relationships with food.

“Holroyd Howe is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all employees to share this commitment. All roles within Holroyd Howe are regarded as regulated activity and therefore we require an Enhanced DBS which includes a Barred List Check for all successful applicants. We will also require shortlisted applicants to provide appropriate information regarding their criminal offences.”

This appointment is offered on the return of satisfactory professional references.

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