Operations Manager

Houston & Hawkes; City Of London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Birthday off

Enhanced leave

Contributory pension

Life assurance

Employee Assistance Programme

CODE Hospitality membership

Foodie Socials

Private healthcare

Learning & progression

Summer Awards Party

Christmas Party

Job summary

Houston & Hawkes in London is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead a prestigious portfolio of catering and hospitality sites. You will drive financial, operational and service performance, and develop Location Managers while delivering first-class client and customer experiences.

The role demands a commercially driven leader with multi-site experience, strong people leadership and a track record of improving operations, costs and guest satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Experience leading multiple locations in contract catering, workplace dining or related hospitality sectors.
• Proven ability to manage budgets, forecasts, labour, cost control and KPI reporting.
• Strong client relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the overall financial, operational and service performance of London locations.
• Drive continuous improvement in food, hospitality and service within contractual frameworks.
• Manage budgets, forecasting, labour controls, cost efficiencies and financial reporting.
• Build and maintain trusted client relationships, ensuring expectations are met and developed.
• Lead regular client meetings and strategic reviews covering financials, customer feedback, innovation and growth.
• Inspire Location Managers, provide coaching and develop high-performing teams.
• Champion employee engagement, training, succession planning and a culture of accountability.

Skills

Multi-site leadership

Hospitality operations

Budgeting & forecasting

Client relationship management

People development

Job description

Operations Manager | London | Monday to Friday

Houston & Hawkes is looking for an experienced and commercially driven Operations Manager to lead a portfolio of prestigious catering and hospitality operations across London.

This is a high-profile leadership opportunity for an accomplished multi-site operator who combines commercial strength with exceptional people leadership, outstanding client relationships and a genuine passion for food and hospitality.

Reporting to our Commercial Director, you will take overall responsibility for the performance and continued development of your locations, leading and developing our Location Managers while delivering exceptional client and customer experiences, strong commercial performance and consistently high operational standards.

THE ROLE

• Lead the overall financial, operational and service performance of your London locations.
• Drive continuous improvement across food, hospitality and service, bringing innovation and flair to each location within agreed commercial and contractual frameworks.
• Manage budgets, forecasting, labour controls, cost efficiencies and financial reporting, ensuring agreed targets are achieved.
• Build and maintain trusted client relationships, ensuring expectations are consistently met and developed throughout the life of each contract.
• Lead regular client meetings and strategic reviews, covering financial performance, customer feedback, innovation, marketing and future development.
• Inspire, lead and develop Location Managers, providing strong leadership, coaching and support to create engaged and high-performing teams.
• Champion employee engagement, training, development and succession planning, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration and high performance.
• Act as a senior ambassador for Houston & Hawkes, building strong partnerships with clients and ensuring Location Managers and their teams remain client and customer focused.
• Continuously identify opportunities to enhance customer experience, increase sales and improve operational performance.
• Ensure the highest standards of quality, presentation, customer service, food safety, health & safety and environmental compliance across all locations.

ABOUT YOU

• A confident and commercially astute hospitality leader with proven multi-site experience within contract catering, workplace dining, premium corporate hospitality or a related sector.
• Proven experience leading and developing Location Managers and high-performing teams across multiple locations.
• Strong commercial and financial management capability, with confidence managing budgets, forecasting and operational performance.
• Exceptional client relationship and stakeholder management skills, alongside a strong background in people development, engagement and performance management.
• An inspirational, visible and approachable leader who is highly organised, resilient and passionate about exceptional food, hospitality and customer experience.

WHY JOIN HOUSTON & HAWKES?

Alongside the opportunity to lead a prestigious London portfolio, you'll be joining a business that genuinely invests in its people, celebrates success and creates opportunities to develop.

• 25 days' holiday plus bank holidays
• Your birthday off every year
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Contributory pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• CODE Hospitality membership, giving you access to one of the UK's leading hospitality communities
• Foodie Socials - bringing our teams together to share new concepts, seasonal food and drink ideas and the creativity happening across Houston & Hawkes
• Private healthcare
• Ongoing learning, leadership development and genuine opportunities for career progression
• Our Summer Awards Party - celebrating the people, achievements and successes across Houston & Hawkes
• An unforgettable Christmas Party at one of London's outstanding venues - bringing the whole business together to celebrate the year in true Houston & Hawkes style

ABOUT HOUSTON & HAWKES

Houston & Hawkes is an award-winning independent caterer creating vibrant, creative and exceptional food and hospitality experiences across some of the UK's most prestigious client sites.

We're a Certified B Corp, recipient of the King's Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development 2026 and proud to be ranked No. 14 in The Caterer's Best Places to Work in Hospitality.

If you are an experienced multi-site hospitality leader ready to take ownership of a high-profile London portfolio, develop exceptional people and build outstanding client partnerships, we would love to hear from you.

Compensation: To be discussed